Jose Peseiro has been widely praised for the tactics that defeated 2023 AFCON hosts Cote d’Ivoire in a decisive Group A match Thursday, but this was only possible after the coach stood his ground against the attackers in the team, who preferred a different tactic.
As first reported by SCORENigeria, Peseiro considered a 3-4-3 formation to keep the host nation at bay and for the Super Eagles deadly strike force to hit their rivals on the counter.
Left-footed Fulham defender Calvin Bassey will join up with William Ekong and Semi Ajayi as the three central defenders, while Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina will be full backs when the team defend and wing backs when they attack.
However, the attackers in the team preferred the 4-3-3 formation, which produced several scoring chances for them against Equatorial Guinea and it was only poor finishing that denied them a big win in that opening match.
They wanted an extra player in midfield to provide them better service upfront and the 3-4-3 will also have the wingers fall back into midfield when the Eagles are defending.
In the absence of injured Alhassan Yusuf, Raphael Onyedika or Chidozie Awaziem would be the direct replacement in a 4-3-3 system.
Peseiro and his assistants therefore had to go into a meeting after dinner Wednesday to take a final decision on which of the formations as well as the players to use against the Ivorians.
Peseiro stuck to the 3-4-3 formation, which he revealed at his post-match press conference he designed in training camp in Dubai prior to the tournament.
On Thursday, the Super Eagles much-vilified defence recorded their first clean sheet since September 2023 against Sao Tome and Principe.
The victory against the AFCON hosts has also kept them on course for a place in the knockout rounds of the tournament.
Now I have a modicum of respect for José Pereiro because of this team and formation he played against Cõte D’Ivoire. Especially the way our players showed concentration and discipline for the whole of 90 minutes. He was able to neutralise the Ivorien attacking powress.
Such tactics cannot be relied upon to make Nigeria go through to the final. It should be changed forthwith. With that formation, Cameroon will trash Nigeria. The coach is Nigerian problem. Egwuavoen.