Former Super Eagles midfielder urges NFF not to sack Jose Peseiro despite Lesotho, Zimbabwe draws

Former Super Eagles midfielder Duke Udi has called out to the Nigeria Football Federation to scrap the idea of sacking head coach Jose Peseiro, Soccernet.ng reports.

Peseiro came under renewed criticism following the Super Eagles’ impressive displays in the opening rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

Nigeria drew 1-1 in Uyo on matchday one against Lesotho, a team that has never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.

A few days later, the Super Eagles wobbled to another 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Rwanda to bag only two points from their first two games.

With the former African champions failing to soar under Peseiro, there have been calls from fans and analysts urging the NFF to relieve the former FC Porto manager of his duties with the national team.

However, Duke Udi does not support the sacking of Peseiro, with the former Slovan Bratislava midfielder insisting that the results have not been terrible.

The four-cap Nigeria international, however, tasked the coaching crew to get every department of the team functioning together for a successful outing at the AFCON in January.

“If any department is not functioning, then it is the problem of the team because everyone has to work together,” the 47-year-old said, as per the Nation. “It’s too early to sack a coach because he drew two matches; he has not lost.

“We are still on course for both competitions (the World Cup and Nations Cup). In Ivory Coast, anything can happen.”

Nigeria will aim to claim a fourth crown at the continental championships when it kicks in Ivory Coast on January 13.

The Super Eagles last won the AFCON title in South Africa in 2013, adding to their glorious outings in 1994 and 1980 on home soil.