Nigeria recorded a clean sheet against AFCON host, Cote d’Ivoire for the first time in five matches and it was down to to Jose Peseiro’s new system.
In an all-important second game, pragmatic football, good defensive shape, and some attacking complacency characterized the win.
Jose Peseiro’s New System: A Background
Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro’s 4-3-3 system in the friendly against Guinea offers Insight into Changes In the team ahead Of AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
Peseiro revealed that he experimented with different formations during his team’s recent friendly 2-0 loss against Guinea.
The encounter at the Banis Yas Stadium in Abu Dhabi, ended with a 2-0 defeat for Peseiro’s side, with Aguibou Camara and Facinet Conte finding the net in each half for the Syli Stars.
Peseiro acknowledged the impact of the formation change on his team’s performance, stating, “We tested the new system today, 3-4-3. We had a very good first half. of course, we’re losing 1-0, but we deserve more. Some penalties and two or three clear chances. I think in the first half we deserve more than the second half. I think the second half is more balanced between the two teams.”
Despite facing setbacks such as missed penalties and clear chances, Peseiro is happy with his team’s overall performance. “We played very well and put the other team on the back foot, but we let in a goal through a mistake. But it’s better to make the mistakes now than later.” The coach emphasized the importance of learning from errors early in the process.
Two Games AT AFCON, Two System
In the first game against Equatorial Guinea, Jose Peseiro kept faith with the 4-3-3 system from the friendly games.
The result of that system gave Nigeria 17 shot attempts with 6 on target and only one goal to earn a 1-1 draw.
By the next game against host Cote d’Ivoire, Jose Peseior’s new system was switched to a 3-4-3.
The 3-4-3 switches to a 5-3-2 when defending, giving the Eagles the flexibility needed to counter the strength of Cote d’Ivoire.
In the end, the switch worked as the eagles kept their composure to secure victory.