Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro has attributed his goalkeepers’ lack of confidence to attacks from Nigerian football supporters, adding that public criticism has hindered their performance.
The Super Eagles have Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye in goal, but have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last ten matches, with keepers coming under heavy criticisms.
Speaking to Omasports after Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in Portugal on Friday, Peseiro said: “I like my players. When they make mistakes, it is my responsibility. In Nigeria, the goalkeepers don’t play freely because the people attack the goalkeepers every time. I remember when I arrived here, they attacked the goalkeepers, call for change of goalkeepers and the goalkeepers don’t feel comfortable.
The @NGSuperEagles coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed concern over the continuous public criticism of the national team goalkeepers, stating that it has severely affected their confidence and hindered their performance. @JosePeseiro pic.twitter.com/SheCvFOz52
— Oma Akatugba (@omaakatugba) October 14, 2023
“When I arrived here, I spoke with the goalkeepers and they said they weren’t comfortable. No one feels comfortable because everyone attacks them.”