Former Nigerian international, Friday Ekpo has advised Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro to deploy another game plan ahead of Sunday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final match against Ivory Coast.
According to Ekpo, this is crucial for the Super Eagles to clinch the final against Ivory Coast on Sunday, following their victory over the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the semi-final clash.
Evaluating the team’s progress, Ekpo in a chat News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) remarked on their noticeable improvements from one match to another, asserting that they are performing well and are in a good position entering the final.
“Another game plan is needed other than the usual that has been used; this is the final and must be handled as one,” he said.
“They picked up gradually like every other team. They put up a good fighting spirit and never backed down in the competition.
“I saw improvements from one match to another, and that’s commendable. Overall, they are doing well and good to play the final.”
Photo by Ganiyu Yusuf
13 Comments
Credit goes to coach Peseiro no doubt but Jay Jay Okocha is what we see in the players. He meets with them all day. Good luck SE.
I think Peseiro with his smartness and his hardwork training with Super Eagles , he can bring excellent plans and tictics for the final game; I think he will bring back Sanusi, he also will enter Moffi and Iheancho at his line-up, cause they tow have strong ability on penetrating Cote De Ivore defence, so Super Eagles need to score more than tow goals in order to secure the winning , this needs from veteran coach Peseiro to put Moffi instead of Simon Moses in the right flank, also he must put Iheancho as a play maker and shadow attacker instead of Alex Iwobi, they tow also must defend when SE loose the ball; in defensive midfield Onyeka can play a duo with Iheancho; so Iheancho should have tow missions defensive mission and attacking one; Peseiro can put Moffi as frist forward , cause he has strong smartnsee on penetrating any defence, Osimhen can be in the shadow of Moffi in order to drag Cote Ivore defenders , so Moffi or Lookman can penetrate then can score goals, these an excellent tactics and strategies that Peseiro should do to win the final game, playing with the same formtion with simple change with Iheancho and Moffi, 3-4-3 is an ideal formation to play with; I think the line-up as follows: Nwabali-Ajayi, Troost- Ekong, Bassy- Onyeka, Iheancho, Aina, Sanusi- Lookman , Moffi, Osihmen.
@Hassan Tia, I’m impressed with your suggestion of an all attack but by doing so, you’ll be killing the midfield and the defence will be under pressure throughout. Moffi & Ihaenacho are not the kind of players that track back to mark. They’re only good for the role we know them for. I will rather prefer the Coach changing tactics to 3-5-2.
Bassey, Ajayi and Ekong at the back but Ajayi must be up and running cuz he look sluggish to me to compete with a pack striker likewise Ekong but they’re really making up for it though. That area should be attended to after AFCON. We’ve Igho Ogbu, Benjamin Frederick, Gabriel Osho of Luton Town who canoe the strength to our central defence area.
At the midfield, Onyeka, Iwobi and Ihaenacho as playmaker. Iwobi should put his all and stop running away from tackles because he’s avoiding injury. Aina and Osayi as wingbacks then Osimhen and Lookman upfront.
Also Peseiro should not be top defensive in the match otherwise. He will be inviting danger. First 15 minutes, the SE should take them by surprise with an all out attack to unsettle them cuz they’ll be expecting us to sit back so instead of that, let’s the Eagles take the game to them the first 15 mins to so their mind go dey. And we can definitely get a goal bcos their defence has been shaky.
Game management is important but you don’t have to defend the whole 90 minutes it’s very boring and won’t make the final worthwhile. All attack all defence is all we need. We should put more body going forward and immediately we loose Posession all midfielders & wingbacks should track back to support the defence, while the likes of Osimhen, Lookman and Ihaenacho be on guard from the midfield to initiate a counter should they loose the 2nd ball
In addition, Simon can also play the wingback position from the left. He played that role during Rhor time and he did well. So instead of Zaidu, pls use Simon or draft Aina there and use Osayi at the right.
Zaidu pls honorably reject any request to play in the final because we’ve seen enough of your blunders. Thanks
Zaidu Sanusi is the best wingback in the whole tournament. The best starting 11 must have key players. Musa and Aribo must play. Onyedika is also needed.
Bringing the cup home (Abuja) will not be achieved by quota or federal character principle allow the coach to choose his best legs and in form players to execute that mission.
When the cup is in Abuja you can revive your federal character which brings no good to Nigeria apart from increasing corruption index.
I don’t know why Alex Iwobi, Chukweze and Zaidu are not living up to expectations despite giving them ample opportunities to do so.
In my opinion they can rest in the final or come in when the deal has been done already.
God bless Super eagles!!!!
I don’t know if anyone has noticed: anytime Nigeria is at its lowest, our team performs amazingly well, the joy of which cures many of potential heart attacks.
God, indeed, knows what we are going through and gave us this opportunity to savour His love and compassion. What joy this victory has brought to millions of heartbroken suffering Nigerians!
We can’t say wat wil happen in the game until it starts on the field. South Africa always open our yacth . It is now how to respond. Though all indices favours eagles. So it depends on wat Cote D’Ivoire plan of which we don’t know for now . Wil dey sit back for penalty. Or try to come out to play ? Wat if they start with long ball . It now depends on peceiro to deplore his boys against 11 opponent and 50000 singing Troup and vàr room men.
We shouldn’t plan taking the game to penalties pls, South Africa was so confidence of winning if the game goes into penalty shootout and they started wasting time and delay tactics.
Peseiro for me shd retain the same tactics and formations that have worked for him and the team so far, I mean why change your winning formula?.
Which game plan is he talking about? Only the midfield needs being twerked or altered hence Coach Peseiro understands the feelings of proud Nigerians and what’s at stake, which is winning the cup despite the preluding commentaries.
As an avowed SE fan and someone who wants to see the name of my country rising like the sun from our East to West, African continent to the World.., The winning team, the team which has taken us thus far, needs continuity pending when there’s need for alteration like having Yusuf replacing Iwobi because though good, the level of the competition seems too high for his calibre. Moreso, Bright Osayi maintain his position if Zaidu is not available, he needs more games if the understanding btw him and his fellows, coupled with his defensive/offensive runs, one of which resulted to the goal scored by the African best, Osimhen in that game. Addition like Osayi is sure to make it counts. Therefore, the idea of changing the game plan doesn’t arise since every other departments, down to Nwabili are okay.
I like the saying of mr thomas . from mama Felicia.
Whatever formation he starts with, he should make it flexible to respond to the Ivory Coast. At this stage of a soccer tournament, your opponents have plenty of videos on how you play as you do of them.
To surprise them with a radical tactical switch is a big risk, but to maintain the same tactical formation is also a risk albeit a lesser one. South Africa did a very good analysis of Nigeria’s tactics, but for their lack of quality finishing they may well be playing the final. Cote d’Ivoire is likely to take those lessons on board.
The prudent choice for Peseiro is to be prepared to make in-game tactical changes in order to respond to Cote d’Ivoire.
At least Peseiro proved you wrong to get this far, Tristan. Peseiro’s Nigeria also did our homework on South Africa to score 2 goals in regulation time though one was chopped off and to overcome them emphatically in penalties where South Africa were favourites.
This is a coach many fans wrote off as being tactically bereft. Now that he is in the final, we should trust him to get the job done.