Former Super Eagles midfielder, Duke Udi, has come out in defense of the team’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, stating that it would be premature to dismiss him from his position.
Despite widespread criticism following Nigeria’s less-than-stellar start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Udi expressed his belief in Peseiro’s capability to guide the team to success.
The Super Eagles encountered a rocky start in their World Cup qualifying campaign, securing just two points from their initial matches against Lesotho’s Likuena and Zimbabwe’s Warriors. However, Udi remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances to clinch the fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire and secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals under Peseiro’s leadership.
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In an interview with BBC Sports Africa, Udi defended Peseiro by highlighting that drawing two matches shouldn’t warrant the coach’s dismissal, emphasizing that the team remains on track for both competitions—the World Cup and the Nations Cup. He further expressed confidence in the team’s potential to make a strong showing at the upcoming tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is slated to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire. The Super Eagles, positioned in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, are set to commence their campaign against Equatorial Guinea at the Alssanne Quattara Stadium in Ebimpe on January 14.
