The greatest takeaway in the match-day three game of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Uyo on Friday was the three points which ensured that the former African champions maintain the leadership of Group D.
However, the performance was not the best followers of the team had expected from the players who are understandably highly rated and better than their visitors who threw everything into the game to get at least a draw but failed. While the Super Eagles were not lacking in scoring opportunities as Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman had chances aplenty, poor and indecisive touches at key moments and vital areas of the opponents meant that the Mediterranean Knights almost left Uyo with a point, even as they barely threatened Stanley Nwabali in goal for the Super Eagles.
While the Super Eagles were struggling to break down the resolute back line of the Mediterranean Knights, the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, a team desirous of wrestling the group leadership from the former African champions, were running riot in their adopted Abidjan home, whipping the Amavubi of Rwanda 3-0.
On twelve shots overall, with six on target, coupled with their huge possession advantage, the Super Eagles should have killed the game earlier than the 87th minute striker when substitute, Lazio’s Dele Bashiru, rose to the occasion and netted the only goal of the match.
On the other hand, the Mediterranean Knights had no single shot on target while the were able to muster two shots off-target.
However, analysts have also blamed interim manager of Super Eagles, Austin Eguaveon, for his tactical approach to the match. His defensive approach through deployment of players didn’t actually help the team that was eager for goals.
Even when playing against lowly rated teams, Eguaveon has the penchant for maintaining either five-man defence or two defensive midfielders. In Friday’s game against Libya, he started two holding midfielders; Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyedika, refusing to change pattern even when Nigeria needed a goal and the opponents were defending.
Also, when Ademola Lookman was substituted, he brought in a defender, Semi Ajayi, leaving skillful and creative Chidera Ejuke on the bench. That was least expected from a coach who was desirous of a goal to maintain top spot on the log.
Also, it wasn’t lack of effort that the Super Eagles struggled to break down the Mediterranean Knights, but rather a change in formation that proved ineffective. Eguavoen opted for a different tactical setup, especially to accommodate the in-form Moses Simon. The 3-4-3 formation, which had worked so well against Benin and Rwanda, seemed to provide less space for Simon, whose club form has been nothing short of impressive. To counter this, Eguavoen tweaked the system to a 4-3-3, hoping to unleash Simon’s potential. Unfortunately, this decision backfired.
Against Benin and Rwanda, the 3-4-3 formation had worked wonders, with a lineup that featured Nwabali in goal; Ekong, Bassey, Ajayi in defence; Aina, Ndidi, Bruno, Iwobi in midfield and
Lookman, Chukwueze and Boniface in attack.
That formation had led to a convincing three-goal display against Benin in Uyo, a team that had troubled Nigeria in recent encounters. Even with just one personnel change against Rwanda – Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replacing Iwobi, the Super Eagles had created a wealth of chances, if not for an outstanding performance from Rwanda’s goalkeeper and a questionable referee decision. That match could have easily ended in a more dominant victory for Nigeria.
So why, after such impressive displays, did Eguavoen revert to a cautious 4-3-3 with two defensive midfielders? It seems the head coach, perhaps out of fear of squandering the opportunity given to him by the NFF, chose to play safe. By doing so, he stifled the attacking prowess that the Super Eagles possess in abundance.
Against the same Libya on Tuesday, he must let go of this fear and trust in the potential of the players and return to the 3-4-3 formation, with only one holding midfielder to unlock the team’s creativity and give the forwards the freedom to attack.
While admitting that the Super Eagles were getting better as a team, Chief Segun Odegbami, former winger, accepted that the former African champions are still miles away from being where they ought to be, saying goal-scoring has remained a problem.
“The Super Eagles are obviously getting better as a team. They are, however, miles away from getting back to convincing winning ways. Goalscoring has become a big challenge.
“Last night’s match against Libya raises a lot of questions, but still gives some hope,” he admitted in a chat with SUNDAY INDEPENDENT.
Eguaveon blamed the lack of goal scoring to slow start, especially in the first half, promising to tinker with his formation on Tuesday.
“I expected us to score more goals. Overall, we are happy to maintain our top spot. I was feeling bad, but we kept pushing and progressing.
“Emotions were high. Libya defended in numbers and we are happy to win.
“We were a bit slow in the first half but the second half was good; we were faster and we got the goal,” Eguavoen said.
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“In the second leg, we will see a bit of a change that will yield positively.
“I know they (Libya) will want to get at least a draw before their fans and their approach to the first leg would have given them a lot of hope but we will do something differently to get the result,” he assured.
However, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, congratulated the team on the victory.
He particularly applauded their resilience even when the goals weren’t coming which he said eventually paid off in the game.
“The Super Eagles showed resilience and hard work, defeating their opponent despite a good fight posed by the Libyans,” he said.
The Zamfara State-born lawmaker added, “The NFF has done great work in picking the right technical crew for the Super Eagles pending the appointment of a substantive coach.”
On his own, the Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike, hailed the Super Eagles over the slim win.
Ejidike in an interaction with some newsmen in Abuja shortly after the match on Friday, described the performance of the Coach Austin Eguavoen-led team as gritty, considering how stoically the Libyans stood up, to soak the pressure being mounted by the Eagles attack line, led by Bayern Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, who got replaced in the 74th minute by Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi.
The Anambra-born sports philanthropist admonished the boys to go to Tripoli next week (Tuesday) and complete the double over the North Africans to secure qualification for the next AFCON to be hosted by Morocco.
Ejidike who is the patron of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, also commended the technical crew for what he called a result-oriented approach to coaching that grinds out the results even when the players barely train together for three days.
Friday Ekpo, the Super Eagles legend, appreciated the team and said the most important thing was the result, noting that the Mediterranean Knights had a game plan which was to come and defend deeply which he said they achieved but eventually surrendered.
“The Super Eagles did well considering the circumstance of the match,” he said in a monitored programme.
“When you play against a team with such approach to a match, it is always difficult to break them down and we have to salute the courage of our players for eventually the goal.
“With that, they are still on top of the table. That to me is what matters at this moment,” he noted.
Ahead of the second leg in Benghazi, Ekpo said the match may even be easier for the Super Eagles as he expects the host to come out because they have no choice.
“The match may be easier for us because the Libyans won’t want to sit back as they did in Uyo. It will be an exciting return leg,” he said.
Others have urged Eguaveon to be attacking minded in the reverend fixture and ensure that the players are psyched up to be ca in front of goals. There is also talks about starting the lone goal scorer, Dele-Bashiru, who many see as being daring and could go solo, a move that could hand the Super Eagles a penalty advantage.
Meanwhile, some talking points have dwelt on the need to have Video Assistant Referee (VAR) fully in Africa after Ademola Lookman was assumably robbed of what should be a legitimate goal after an exchange with Samuel Chukwueze. The
Super Eagles had the ball in the back of the net in the 83rd minute but the Malawian referee ruled it offside.
Lookman exchanged passes with Chukwueze and, on the return pass, the Atalanta man slotted the ball past the Libyan goalkeeper. However, replays showed Lookman was completely onside and the referee might have gotten his call wrong. In the absence of VAR, however, such error could not be corrected.
Also, commentators have spoken of Alex Iwobi, as the Fulham midfielder offered very little to the Super Eagles in the final third of the encounter. He wasted two glaring chances in either half to set the tone for that frenzy last minute struggle for goals.
