Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has expressed faith in the ability of goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho as Nigeria prepares to face Angola at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
His vote of confidence came at the pre-match conference on February 1, amid fears over the fitness of Stanley Nwabali for Nigeria’s quarter-final clash against Angola.
Although Nwabali joined his teammates in training at the Ecole Nationale de la Police on Tuesday, the coach addressed the goalkeeper’s situation.
He said the goalie’s availability was still subject to a late fitness test during the team’s last training session for the game on Thursday.
Peseiro said; “We have to wait for a late fitness test today (Thursday), if he is not ready, I have other goalkeepers (Uzoho and Ojo). I believe and trust all my goalkeepers, if Nwabali is not fit, I trust Uzoho”.
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier Stanley Nwabali was available for call up to the national team after being cleared to play.
There were speculations that the Chippa United shot-stopper would miss the Palancas Negras clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan after he was stretchered off the pitch in the second half of Nigeria’s 2-0 win over the Indomitable Lions.
But the ligament injury he suffered was said to not be that bad as the national team medics gave him the green light to appear in his fifth consecutive match at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will take on Angola at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan at 6pm Nigerian time today.
