Peseiro defends Uzoho after errors cost Nigeria friendly victory

Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has defended goal keeper Francis Uzoho after his errors cost Nigeria a friendly win over Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Uzoho first punched a corner kick into his own net mid-way into the second half.

With Nigeria rallying to take a 2-1 lead, Uzoho conceded a last-minute goal off a freekick to deny the Super Eagles a deserved win.

But coach Peseiro seemed unperturbed after the match.

“I like our players, when they make mistakes it is my responsibility.

The goalkeepers never play free or calm because of the people. I don’t know why they attack the goalkeepers every time,” he said.

“Why don’t they attack the strikers when they lose the ball or miss a goal, why? When I arrived here, I remember I was told to change the goalkeeper.

“I spoke with all of them, No one feels comfortable because everybody attacked them. They could make mistakes, it is my responsibility. Next time I need to train him (Uzoho) better,” he added.

Nigeria will next face Mozambique ahead of the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in November

The Super Eagles  have also been grouped alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in Group A of the 2023 AFCON.