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Photo credit: Osodi Emmanuel
Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles head coach, says the team’s goalkeepers lack confidence due to constant scrutiny by Nigerians.
The coach spoke on Friday after the Eagles played a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in a friendly match.
Francis Uzoho was Nigeria’s goalkeeper against Saudi. He conceded two goals from the Arabians’ three shots on target in the game.
On social media, Nigerians blamed him for the first goal after the goalkeeper parried a seemingly harmless freekick from Salman Al-Faraj into his net.
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Uzoho is not the only Eagles goalkeeper who has faced intense criticism in recent years.
Last year, Maduka Okoye was forced to lock the comment section of his Instagram account as Nigerians blamed him for the country’s quarter-final exit from the 2022 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking on the trend, Peseiro said he should be blamed for any mistake made by the team and not the goalkeepers.
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He condemned the constant online abuse of the goaltenders and asked, “why don’t they attack the strikers when they lose the ball or miss a goal?”
“I like our players. When they make mistakes, it is my responsibility. The goalkeepers never play freely or calmly 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? They could make mistakes. It is my responsibility. Next time, I need to train him [Uzoho] better.”
“When I arrived here, I remember I was told to change the goalkeeper. I spoke with all of them, and no one feels comfortable because everybody attacks them.”
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The Eagles will wrap up their round of international friendlies against Mozambique on Monday.
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