Nigeria go fit recover ahead of 2023 Nations Cup?

Nigeria dey face plenty criticisms from fans and pundits sake of dia yeye performance for dia first two qualifiers for di 2026 Fifa World Cup.

Dem dey worry say di Super Eagles fit miss out on di World Cup for a second time running.

Minnows Lesotho bin hold Nigeria to 1-1 home draw for dia Group C opener and dem also come from back to pick one point against Zimbabwe for dia second match.

Coach Jose Peseiro bin come under pressure afta e fail to get di best out of di plenty attacking talent wey dey at im disposal, but former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai don tell supporters say make dem no write off di side.

"Dem fit surprise us. Football na crazy sport. I believe say dem still fit turn tins around and make Nigerians happy," di 60-year-old, wey play for di 1994 and 1998 World Cup finals, tell BBC Sport Africa.

"No be disaster yet.

"I expect di team to turn am around and qualify for di World Cup."

Nigeria na third for di Group C table, dem get two points behind leaders Rwanda, wey record one shock win over South Africa on Tuesday.

Di Super Eagles bin miss out on one ticket to go di 2022 World Cup afta one play-off defeat by West African rivals Ghana on away goals.

Peseiro and im team now get several issues to resolve as eye dey for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, wey go start on 13 January.

Problem for di dugout

Since e take charge for 2022, Peseiro don win six and lose six of im 15 matches for di dugout.

Im side don score 31 times - wit 10 coming in one game against Sao Tome e Principe - and e concede 21 goals.

Di Portuguese bin guide Nigeria to qualification for di Nations Cup, and di only time dia points drop na afta Guinea-Bissau beat dem for dia house.

Yet afta e fall behind against Lesotho and Zimbabwe and e fail to beat both sides for World Cup qualification, di former Sporting Lisbon and Porto coach don come under fire.

"We bin start poorly considering our standard and di talent for di team," David Doherty, one Nigerian football scout, tell BBC Sport Africa.

"We fit do better? Absolutely we can - but no be wit dis present coach."

One member of di executive committee for di Nigeria Football Federation tok say "dem no dey happy" wit di job wey Pesiero dey do, but dem tok say di organisation no get money to terminate im contract.

In fact, di 63-year-old coach bin even agree to take pay cut for September.

"If we get di money (to pay for compensation), we go like to relieve am of im job," Nse Essien tok.

"Everybody dey call for di sack of di head coach. E dey unfortunate say from a possible six points, we only get two points. We dey for very dangerous situation."

Where Nigeria fit improve?

Dem fall di hand of Super Eagles supporters, considering di plenty attacking talent wey dey available.

As e be say di squad get strong firepower like Napoli Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen, Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest and Ademola Lookman, wey dey play for Serie A for Atalanta now, di Super Eagles suppose use teams like Lesotho and Zimbabwe take shine.

Yet pundits point to issues wey don dey ground tey-tey for di side.

"Di set of players for our midfield now no go ever make any of di previous Nigeria teams - from 2013 go back to di 1950s," Eseoghene Edafe, one Lagos-based sports blogger tok.

"We get some of di best attackers but strikers dey play wit sense. Dem dey benefit for di end of a great pass or creation of movement by di midfielders. We neva get dat one yet."

E be like say di space wey former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel leave afta im retirement from di national team for di 2019 Nations Cup still be major issue.

Former Super Eagle Duke Udi, wey feature for di qualifiers for di 2002 World Cup, believe say di solution na to blend all parts of di team to work togeda and make dem no just focus on di attacking quality.

"If any department no dey function, den na di problem of di team because everyone need to work togeda," e tell BBC Sport Africa.

Goalkeepers dey under fire

Anoda area for di team wey dey always draw widespread yabbings na di goalkeeping department.

First choice Francis Uzoho bin don struggle to inspire confidence from fans, wey blame am for some of di team poor results in recent matches.

Peseiro bin support di 25-year-old afta two friendlies last month but Uzoho deactivate im social media account afta di 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Fellow keeper Maduka Okoye bin also come under spotlight afta Nigeria quarter-final exit from di 2021 Nations Cup, a 1-0 defeat by Tunisia.

Rufai don accept concerns about di goalkeeping position, as e call for collective response from di entire team.

"Yes, we get goalkeeping problem, but no be say we no get quality goalkeepers," Rufai tok.

"Dem need to dey courageous, dem must dey strong and no let pipo dragging demoralise dem. Di entire team need to rise up to di occasion."

Peseiro go fit turn tins around for Nations Cup?

Afta a disappointing international break, di confidence around di Super Eagles don dey shake as pipo dey doubt di team ability to do well for di Nations Cup.

E be like say expectations dey low despite NFF 'Lets Do It Again' social media campaign to ginger support for di team for Ivory Coast, wia Nigeria go face di hosts, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea for Group A.

Dem go fit erase di memories of dia below-par start to di World Cup qualifiers?

"We don overcome so many challenges in di past," Captain Moses Simon post afta di draw with Zimbabwe inside one message ontop X.

"Now na di time to reason and come back stronger."

Di expected return of Osimhen suppose provide a timely boost, once di 24-year-old – wey finish for di Nations Cup qualifiers as top scorer wit 10 goals – overcome im current hamstring injury.

Wit di Napoli star back on board, Udi believe say Nigeria get di potential to add to dia three continental titles and dem dey back Peseiro - for now.

"E dey too early to sack a coach because e score draw for two matches. E neva lost," di former midfielder add.

"We still dey on course for both competitions di World Cup and Nations Cup). For Ivory Coast, anytin fit happun."