Boniface to replace Osimhen, Tella’s debut delayed

The Super Eagles take on Lesotho on Wednesday, and Peseiro would look to field his strongest lineup 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Lesotho in their first game of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and coach Jose Peseiro will be looking to get off to a strong start, Soccernet reports.

Peseiro invited 23 players for the fixture, but there are some notable absentees, with Osimhen having to sit out this one because of an injury he sustained during the last break.

Also, in the goalkeeping department, home-based goalkeepers Olorunleke Ojo and Obasogie will provide Francis Uzoho with competition instead of Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye.

With these situations taken into account, Pesiro will field a slightly different lineup from the past.

Super Eagles Predicted XI

Uzoho is in pole position to man the sticks for Nigeria, except something very serious happens to him before the game on Wednesday. Obasogie and Ojo would have to watch from the sidelines.

In defence, a centre-back partnership of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi should suffice. Ajayi has gotten a lot of minutes since Peseiro took over, and he could again be on the lineup for the Super Eagles.

Jamilu Collins is expected to start at left-back following Bruno Onyemaechi’s injury. Then, Ola Aina will feature from the right of Nigeria’s defence.

In midfield, Raphael Onyedika should start in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, and he will be partnered by Frank Onyeka.

Fulham star Alex Iwobi will be the creative link in midfield, trying to carve out spaces in the Lesotho defence with his passes.

Then, in the attack, Ademola Lookman is expected to start from the left,  while Samuel Chukwueze will operate from the right. Victor Boniface will lead the attack and make sure Osimhen is not missed.

A comfortable win for Nigeria would take them to the summit of Group C of the qualifiers because Rwanda already played a goalless draw against Zimbabwe.