Super Eagles gears up for 2026 WCQ despite absence of Osimhen and Chukwueze

Jose Peseiro, the head coach of the Super Eagles, remains unfazed by the absence of key players as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Zaidu Sanusi were notably excluded from the squad due to fitness concerns. Both Osimhen and Chukwueze sustained hamstring injuries during Nigeria’s friendly against Saudi Arabia last month, while Sanusi recently returned to action with FC Porto after spending about six weeks on the sidelines.

Peseiro expressed confidence in the quality of players at his disposal, emphasizing that he is focused on the 23 players selected for the qualifiers.

“No Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Zaidu, and others are not fit, but I am only speaking about them because you asked me. It’s better I think about the 23 players, come with more confidence; I don’t care about the others, only I said recover well, for that I call them,” stated Peseiro during a press conference in Uyo.

The Super Eagles are set to host the Likuena of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Thursday, with Peseiro expressing optimism about the team’s readiness despite the absence of some key players.