Nigeria vs G’Bissau: Peseiro faces defenders’ headache

By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 9, 2023

Jose Peseiro is facing significant crisis in his defence line as he prepares for the Nigeria versus Guinea Bissau clash in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations double-header later this month, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Super Eagles take on the Wild Dogs in a match-day three encounter of the 2023 AFCON qualification series at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on March 24, with the reverse fixture billed for the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro de Bissau three days later.

If the Eagles win both games, it will place them in good stead for a qualification spot, ahead of the final qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome & Principe.

The Eagles have been struggling defensively lately, and Portuguese Peseiro has been feeling the pressure after his side let in at least a goal in seven of their last eight games and losing their last three matches.

Queens Park Rangers defender, Leon Balogun, is one of his club’s long term absentees and is still weeks from returning to action.

The centre-back, signed by the R’s last August on a free, has not played for four months due to a calf injury he sustained last November. His last game for QPR was against Huddersfield Town at the start of November and was replaced at half time after copping the injury.

Stand-in captain, William Troost-Ekong, who moved to Serie A club Salernitana from Watford in January, has only played three games for the Italian topflight club.

The 28-year-old, has been out of action since February 13, after suffering a worrying knee injury in Salernitana’s 1-0 loss to Hellas Verona.

He was replaced with seven minutes left to play by Norbert Gyomber and faces a race to be fully fit for the double-header against Guinea Bissau.

Kenneth Omeruo is another player who has not featured at club level for Legates since January 16, when he played against Albacete.

The defender is currently recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained two months ago and he remains a huge doubt for the encounter.

The 29-year-old, who missed the Eagles last encounter against Portugal last November, looks sets to be excluded from the fixtures against Guinea Bissau in a fortnight.

Speaking on his team’s defensive issues, Peseiro believes the Eagles are still a work in progress and can only get better.

“Of course, I want to improve our organisation of the team defensively on the field. We want to introduce our ideas and our style gradually and ensure no lapses.”

Super Eagles goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, who has kept nine clean sheets for Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem this season, believes the defence will be fortified by other players despite the injuries to the aforementioned trio.

“We just need more games to get better and improve more than we are at the moment. We must believe the process and with hard work, the team will make Nigerians smile again.”

Former Eagles left-back Elderson Echiejile, who played under Peseiro at Braga during the 2012/13 season, said, “He (Peseiro) has been saddled with a responsibility to build a team, so, let us give him time to achieve that. The defence and the team as a unit will get better playing together.”

Source Punch Ng

Posted March 9, 2023


 

You may also like...
Osimhen at par with Haaland – Sosa

Real Madrid Join Race For Ndidi

Tragedy hits Nigerian football as star defender Dominic...

Nigeria to play Angola in AFCON quarterfinals

Tokyo Olympics: Nigerian Delegate Sets Record As First...

Victor Osimhen appreciates his decision to join Galatasaray...

 

Latest News Anambra School Sports Festival Ends In Emotional Grand Style As Njikoka Emerge Champions Club W’Cup: Chelsea face travel woes after group stage upset Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion Adesanya eyes Strickland fight for UFC return Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger Brentford reject Man Utd's new £62.5m Mbeumo bid After 31 Years, FG Hands Over Houses To 1994 Super Eagles Heroes Ronaldo signs new deal with Saudi club Al-Nassr Leicester part company with manager Van Nistelrooy 'Wilder v Paul next? You wouldn't flinch' UFC fighters to receive up to $1m in settlement payout 17 States Confirm Plans To host Olympic Day

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,552 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,712 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,728 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,322 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,322 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,312 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,114 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,658 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,768 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,378 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,824 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,247 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media