Lesotho coach Leslie Notsi has said they did not give the Super Eagles respect in Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo.
The Eagles got their campaign off to a disappointing start after they were held to a 1-1 draw.
Lesotho took a shock 1-0 lead in the 56th minute through Motlomelo Mkwanazi from a corner kick.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: How Super Eagles Rated In Draw Against Lesotho
In the 67th minute Semi Ajayi equalised with a powerful header also from a corner.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: How Super Eagles Rated In Draw Against Lesotho
Speaking on his post-match press conference, Notsi said:“We did not give them respect because they are the same human beings like us. We decided to go on the pitch and enjoy ourselves but the enjoyment is not to go there and waste time but self believe should be there, they should express themselves on the areas they are good at.“
He explained that he and his crew had monitored the Super Eagles and came up with plans to capitalize.
“We have followed the team and saw areas we feel we can capitalize on, where we thought we had chances of coming up with something. So, there’s a lot we’ve learnt from this.“
Up next for the Eagles is an away game in Rwanda on Sunday against Warriors of Zimbabwe.
The Warriors began their campaign on a goalless draw with Rwanda on Wednesday.
By James Agberebi in Uyo
Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf
9 Comments
Very SHAMEFUL!
A COUNTRY RANKED 153 almost DEFEATED the POWER HOUSE of AFRICAN FOOTBALL…
SMH..
This is a big embarrassment to Nigeria. NFF should please listen to Nigerian fans by sacking this coach. Peseiro is not better than super falcons coach. Waldron should be appointed immediately. Peseiro will not be able to qualify super eagles to the world cup and with this coach Nigeria will not qualify from the group stage of next year nations cup
Yes, the coach is not good. We have the players but we don’t have a coach. The NFF should sideline him and employ someone else. The earlier the better, if not another draw or lose, we would kiss the World Cup qualifier good bye.
appens sometimes in the game, Argentina lost to Uruguay at home! It happens but Pesario tactical quality is poor. Nigeria deserves higher quality world class coach or sound local coaches. I don’t know why EFCC never investigate people they suppose to investigate, they only focus on poor people! Bad people in Nigeria football need to investigate!! juju and alcultic people full glass house. Because balogun complaind about players bonuses, they came after him! Banished him out from the team, you talk you die, if you no talk you die. Politicians have captured every positions in nigeria. If those players tell you what they going through with NFF, you will not allow your brother to play for this country
You see what happens when u don’t put some people in their place and fail to do the needeful????? U see??? If we had walloped these dudes as expected, they wouldn’t have had the guts to come to the media and tell the world that they didn’t respect us. Suddenly, they feel at par with us. Terrible!!!The same is happening to our country as a whole. No country in the world respects or fears Nigeria anymore bcs of how lowly we have fallen as a result of bad leadership. Instead of getting a good coach to continue from where rohr stopped, u went and brought this short site engineer whose record cannot be compared to that of his predecessor. Where are those who said any coach can win the nations cup with this same team in 2weeks. Where is odegbami (the chief ex cricket international) and his epistles of garbage??? I guess, he has drunk and finished the ink in his pen? Where is mr ex sports minister Alias queens English Dare, with no brains??? All of u are architects of the dire state of our football today bcs of your wickedness and selfish interests. If care is not taken, we are gonna kiss 2026 world cup goodbye. Crazy idiots!!!! Ordinary lesitho don get mouth, chei! We are finished!
See what Peseiro has caused.
The last time, under Rohr, C.A.R were running their mouths after that defeat; now “lowly” Lesotho is following suit.
Shame. HIGHLY disgraceful.
We blame everyone for the fall of our super chicken. The players should be held accountable, nobody else. If they play and performed for their clubs, why not in the national team? Newmarket said it. Eagles never respect that shirt anymore, as it is very easy for them to get it.
Peseiro must give drastic orders to Super attacker in the next match versus the Warriors Zimbabwe to play one to one versus Zimbabwe on attacking chances, order Iwobi and Oneyka to pass through passes to attackers, order attacker to give each others passes to score goals, play quick passes to each other on Zimbabwe 18 line or 6 line.
Lesotho played as if that match was an opportunity of a lifetime. The Lesotho goalie especially did not do himself any harm with his performance. Very assured, competent goalkeeping.
Congrats to them.