NGR vs G’Bissau: Peseiro confident, defends team selection

Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro is confident of a positive result and defended his team selection ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau in Abuja on Friday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

Nigeria top Group A with six points and a win will move the Super Eagles to nine points as they hope to get a vital three points when they travel to Guinea-Bissau for the return leg on Tuesday.

The Eagles defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 in their first match and thrashed Sao Tome and Principe 10-0. The Djurtus got a 5-1 victory against Sao Tome and Principe and played a 2-2 draw with Sierra Leone.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match, the 62-year-old gaffer says the players he selected for the qualifiers are the best despite some of them not playing regularly for their various clubs.

“It is not easy to build a team or a national team if you change the team every time, because, first of all, we need to have enough practice in the camp about our ideas, our organisation, defensive organization and our spirit also,” Peseiro told The PUNCH.

“There are many players with quality, if I choose anybody, it is because I believe they can do better than the others. You need to create a spirit within the team.

“I like all my players, I understand everybody, because surely If I ask everybody to choose 20 players, they will choose who they like, but I understand, it is normal. The difference is I am the coach, I choose, in my mind, the best players for our team, but if I ask 200 million Nigerians, they can choose for themselves, but it is my job.

“Of course, I know these players, and we appreciate these players, I visit many players until now. If I choose these players now, it is because I believe in them more than many others, only them.”

Since taking charge of the Super Eagles on May 15, 2022, the 62-year-old has overseen six matches in all competitions managing two wins, three defeats, and one draw.