Timothy Dehinbo
The legendary Sir Alex Ferguson famously stated “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.”
It appears that Jose Peseiro, the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has drawn inspiration from this playbook.
Last night, the Super Eagles of Nigeria advanced to the quarter-final stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, securing a 2-0 victory over rivals Cameroon with goals courtesy of Ademola Lookman.
Before the Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles struggled to maintain clean sheets in various matches, including friendly games and some World Cup qualifying matches. However, in the Africa Cup of Nations, they have only conceded one goal in four games, despite facing teams that collectively scored 18 goals in the group stages.
Analyzing their newfound defensive solidity, Timothy Dehinbo delves into the question of how they have achieved this defensive prowess.
Jose Peseiro has displayed tactical discipline
Despite Nigeria having many skilled attackers, one might have expected Jose to adopt a more attacking style. However, there’s not a single fixed way to play football, and he has chosen a pragmatic strategy. While some may raise eyebrows, his approach has been effective so far, and he deserves credit for it.
Additionally, in terms of inspiration, Jose Peseiro might have drawn insight from the accomplished Portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho, and implemented some of the advice he sought. Another influential figure is Carlos Queiroz, a fellow Portuguese, with whom Peseiro worked as an assistant manager at Real Madrid.
Both managers have demonstrated defensive prowess and the ability to lead teams to success in cup competitions.
The 3-4-3 Formation
Jose Peseiro started with a 4-1-4-1 formation in the first group game against Equatorial Guinea. Due to Al Hassan Yusuf’s injury in that match, he had to switch things up for the second game against Ivory Coast. Interestingly, the injury to Al Hassan might have worked out for the better. Since the second game, Jose has stuck with a 3-4-3 formation, and the team hasn’t conceded a goal.
The team’s current setup has made it tough for opponents to break through Nigeria’s defence. Their compactness, sharpness, and disciplined shape have been really good. The use of the 5-4-1 shape in games against Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau, especially when defending, worked well.
Highlighting Jose Peseiro’s tactical discipline was even more evident in yesterday’s game against Cameroon, as he occasionally set the team up out of possession using a 5-3-2 rather than the usual 5-4-1. This adjustment allowed Lookman to move slightly higher to support Osimhen, and the first goal clearly attests to its success.
This setup has proven effective, and it seems likely that Jose Peseiro will continue with it in the upcoming games, unless a change is needed based on the game’s tempo. For now, this approach is here to stay.
Stanley Nwabali
One could argue that Nwabali hasn’t faced many tests due to the strong defensive shape, but it’s crucial not to underestimate his command and effectiveness in contributing to the defensive strength.
It’s a delight for defenders to have a goalkeeper behind them who exudes confidence. Nwabali has displayed considerable confidence, particularly in handling the ball, and his vocal leadership to command the defence has been instrumental. Let’s not overlook his impressive long-range passing abilities. There’s a lot of assurance in his game, and all these factors have certainly contributed to the defensive solidity.
Nigerians will be hopeful that the injury he sustained last night won’t rule him out of the Quarter Final game against Angola and that he can recover in time.
The development of Ajayi in Defence
Before the tournament, Ekong’s reliability and Calvin Bassey’s skills were pretty certain, though there might have been some doubts about Semi Ajayi. However, seeing Ajayi develop into a solid force alongside Bassey and Ekong is impressive. Ajayi had a slower start against Equatorial Guinea, but he’s been quite good since then, making important blocks, winning aerial duels, stopping runs and vital interceptions. While Ajayi has improved in defence, it’s also important to give credit to the other defenders.
A Non-Creative but Functional Midfield
There’s been talk about the midfield lacking creativity and build-up, but it’s been functional and effective. Frank Onyeka had a strong performance against the Indomitable Lions, providing good cover while the fullbacks advanced. His recoveries, tackles, and duels were solid, with 9 ball recoveries and a 2/3 success rate in tackles last night. As for Iwobi, though more is expected, the current setup might not fully showcase his skills. Adapting to a new zone, he’s done well considering his strength level. He deserves credit, and his quality showed in the lead-up to the second goal with a great pass.
The Attackers Monstrous Pressing
It’s clear that the Super Eagles attack is their primary line of defence.
Speaking to Hot Sports, Bassey said, “Defending starts from the front so if you see the way we are defending from the front I’ve got to give credit to the strikers and our wingers.”
The pressing from the front by Osimhen, Lookman, and Simon, not only in yesterday’s game but also in other matches, especially at the right moments has significantly contributed to the team’s defensive strength.
