Peseiro faces selection headache ahead of Lesotho clash

Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro is facing a selection dilemma ahead of Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho in Uyo, www.aclsports.com reports.

Peseiro led his wards to their first full training inside the main bowl of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Tuesday evening in a session attended by all twenty-three players expected for the game.

The Portuguese coach will have to make do with the absence of striker Victor Osimhen and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi but their absence has even only compounded Peseiro’s selection headache and not a relief.

“If both players were to be here (Osimhen and Ndidi), it would have even been good because they would have started, but the coach is now having serious headache about who replaces them,” a team official who prefers not to be named informed www.aclsports.com after Tuesday’s training.

“The fact that we can only have just two training sessions before the game also makes it more difficult for the coach to pick out his starters but I’m sure he will arrive at the best conclusion,” the source added.

In the absence of Osimhen, Peseiro will have to choose between red-hot Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface, OGC Nice star Terem Moffi, returning Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi and goal shy Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq for the Lesotho game.

In the midfield, Belgium based Raphael Onyedika looks like the natural replacement for Ndidi but Peseiro has never hidden his love for Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka.

Jose Peseiro will lead out Nigeria against Lesotho in their first group stage game of the 2026 World Cup qualifying series at 5pm local time in Uyo on Thursday.

PLAYERS IN CAMP

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance, Nigeria)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales)

Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)