Nigeria head coach José Peseiro is silently and proudly proving his doubters and critics wrong with some outstanding defensive performances by the Super Eagles, the question on the minds of most Nigerians is “What changed?”
After delivering another impressive win for Nigeria at the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Peseiro is fast becoming the fans’ favourite who at the earlier stage of the competition faulted his style of play.
Two goals (one in each half) from Ademola Lookman were enough as the Super Eagles qualified for the quarterfinals at the expense of Cameroon.
Nigeria began the competition with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea. This drew criticism from many fans, who expected the Super Eagles to take all three points, especially with the numerous chances the team created and the caliber of personnel in the squad.
Peseiro, however, began to impress Nigerians with his tactical prowess during the game against host Ivory Coast.
The Portuguese switched to a defensive approach, with three at the back. This defence-first approach won Nigeria all three points – with captain Troost-Ekong scoring from the penalty spot.
Nigeria defeated Guinea Bissau 1-0 to book a place in the round of 16 against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
Jose Peseiro’s decision to deploy five defenders proved instrumental in stifling Cameroon’s attacking capabilities during the match.
The Indomitable Lions found themselves virtually stranded, unable to create goal-scoring opportunities, and, remarkably, concluded the game without registering a single shot on target.
Before the match, all focus was on Victor Osimhen as the danger on the pitch. That however changed as Peseiro had a tactical rearrangement.
In previous games opposing defenders concentrated their attention on Nigeria’s mercurial Victor Osimhen, who is arguably Africa’s leading striker and one of the best strikers in the world at this time.
Peseiro, in a visionary change of approach, moved Osimhen to somewhat of a playmaker or feeder position, leaving alternate strikers less encumbered as opposing defenders focused on Osimhen. By so doing the fast and resourceful Ademola Lookman was able to take advantage of the gap in the fence once in each half.
Peseiro’s decision to transition to a back three, featuring defenders like Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey, significantly bolstered Nigeria’s defensive resilience, propelling them into the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023.
Implementing a defensive high line proved to be a shrewd move by Peseiro, limiting the time Cameroon had on the ball and disrupting their attacking rhythm.
The relentless and hardworking efforts of midfielders Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka played a crucial role in establishing dominance in the midfield, and by pressuring Cameroon and winning key battles in the center of the pack; the Super Eagles gained a physical and mental advantage.
