The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off this month, with Nigeria scheduled to trade tackles with Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The Super Eagles will welcome Lesotho’s Crocodiles to Uyo on November 16 before they travel to Kigali, Rwanda, to take on Zimbabwe’s Warriors three days later.
Nigeria have won all their four previous encounters against Lesotho and have never lost a competitive match against Zimbabwe, winning four and drawing one of five meetings.
To maintain that excellent tradition, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro will bank on Nigeria’s best legs to prosecute the two matches in September.
Coach Peseiro has made it clear that he is ready to stick with Francis Uzoho as his number-one goalkeeper, with Adebayo Adeleke not impressing him well enough in training.
One goalkeeper who could, however, force the Portuguese tactician to have a change of heart is Sweden-based Jonathan Rasheed.
The 31-year-old shot-stopper has been excellent for IFK Varnamo in the Allsvenskan, and he has expressed his desire to dump Norward to represent Nigeria.
While goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was impressive on his Udinese debut, Rasheed could be the man to challenge Uzoho for the Eagles’ number-one gloves.
