The Super Eagles extend their winless run in competitive games to three with their disappointing 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea, which wraps up the opening game in Group A.
The Nigerian side started the game with purpose but missed several chances to turn shots into goals, with the high press of the Super Eagles causing the Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) defensive problems.
Against the run of play, Iban Salvador caught the Super Eagles defence sleeping. A beautiful combinational play sliced open the back line, with Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali rooted to the grass, as he could only watch the ball go into the back of his net with guile.
However, it was an instant response from Nigeria, with African best player Victor Osimhen heading into an empty net to even the game after Atalanta wonderkid Ademola Lookman did all the hard work to set up the Napoli hitman.
Persecond News Analysis of the game expected the Super Eagles to switch formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 so Victor Osimhen can have the ball to his feet and add more support in the final third to exploit the loopholes and put more pressure on the defence line of the Nzalang Nacional team.
The formation will give the Super Eagles more impetus to burst forward from the wings, with Iwobi and Yusuf not giving us that cutting-edge pass and the inability to find the front runs of Osimhen from the midfield.
Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi are full-backs who have an eye for goals. With more players in the final third, the Super Eagles stand a chance of creating and scoring more goals.
A major headache for Jose Peseiro going into his second game would be the injury blow to Alhassan Yusuf, who came in to replace Wilfred Ndidi.
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