'Boniface, Awoniyi, Osimhen, Moffi don't play with two strikers' - Peseiro admits Super Eagles forwards uncoordinated

Speaking at the post-match press conference after his side's 1-1 draw with Lesotho in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro admitted that his strikers failed to deliver the goods because they were uncoordinated.

Semi Ajayi's thumping header midway through the second half prevented the three-time African champions from another embarrassing loss at home, following defeats to Central African Republic and Guinea-Bissau. 

Peseiro opted to pair Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi and Bayer Leverkusen new sensation Victor Boniface in attack but the two players who have scored 11 goals between them in the top five European leagues so far this season lacked chemistry.

The Portuguese football tactician underlined that his center forwards Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi are not familiar with playing the two-striker role as they play with a striker less at their respective clubs.

The Super Eagles dominated possession, registered 29 shots with eight on target, but lacked a goal poacher in the mould of Victor Osimhen who was not called up for the November internationals due to a hamstring injury. 

Peseiro admitted that he did not have enough time to adequately prepare the center forwards for the matchday one tie against the Crocodiles. 

"Ours strikers score in their clubs, they didn't score today, the same players. The players work on finishing in their clubs, they have time there. Two days, we didn't finish training," Peseiro told reporters. 

"The other thing is that only us play with two strikers. Boniface, Taiwo, Osimhen, Moffi don't play with two strikers. 

"We try to coordinate that to play with two strikers because with two strikers we scored 10 goals, 3 goals against (Mozambique), we score every time with two strikers.

"You want to create the coordination not the finishing so they understand the movements better each one that play together.

"Today I felt sometimes there was no right coordination, for that we need more time for training but it's not only the work, it's the bad luck. The ball hit the post, the ball was going into the goal, one defender touched it. Many situations."

Nigeria will aim to pick up their first win of the World Cup qualifiers when they face Zimbabwe on Sunday, November 19.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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