Some ex-internationals have criticised the Super Eagles over their unconvincing performance against Equatorial Guinea in the second Group A match at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.
The ex-internationals spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos in reaction to the 1-1 draw played by the Super Eagles against Equatorial Guinea.
Olympics gold medalist Mobi Oparaku, described the Eagles performance as below par. “I don’t want to say the players are bad or good, but I want to condemn their actions as they played against Equatorial Guinea.
“Our players lack bite; we did not play Equatorial Guinea the way they played us; this country is an underdog in African football. The Eagles lacked possession.
“When the Eagles were in possession, they lacked options, but when their opponents were in possession, they had many options. When the Guineans were with the ball, they played with precision. We did not play well against them at all. I have said Nigeria has players but not a team,” he said.
Oparaku, also a former Super Eagles right back, said Osimhen could have done better in handling the ball with clear chances to score, but he failed to.
“Osimhen needs to brace up; he can’t miss such chances in games like this.
“The goal against Nigeria was not good at all. Imagine three defenders blocking the goalkeeper’s view. I am angry with the way the team played,” he said.
Another ex-international and AFCON 2013 winner, Benedict Akwuegbu, who spoke from his base in the U.K., said poor tactics led to the senior national team’s lackluster performance.
“We played poorly; the coach, Jose Peseiro, played wrong tactics, and that was the reason we couldn’t win the match. How can Peseiro play with a lone striker in this type of match? This is our first match, and we need two strikers upfront.
“Our midfielders should have held on to the ball a bit, while Peseiro should have deployed Moses Simon on the right and Samuel Chukwueze on the left to feed Osimhen.
“We should have played more attacking football and put the Guineans under pressure; we need not defend against a country that is not so good,” he said.
Akwuegbu claimed that Nigeria did not play against a big country, so the tactical approach should have been to attack and not defend.
“We should have put pressure on the Guineans and not allowed them to play and build confidence. If we attack well, Osimhen can score three goals,” he said.
For AFCON 1994-winning Edema Fuludu, Peseiro should take the blame. “I have said that we lack a good coach; we don’t deserve someone like Peseiro,” he said.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles came from behind to draw level as Stanley Nwabili failed to prevent Equatorial Guinea from taking the lead against the run of play in the 36th minute, with Iván Salvador drawing first blood.
Nigeria got the much-needed equaliser as Atlanta FC of Italy forward Ademola Lookman, squared a pass to 2023 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, to equalise the game.
