The senior national team of Nigeria completed their tour of the United States of America without picking a win in any of the two friendly games they played. They lost 1-2 to Mexico before losing 0-1 to Ecuador.
OwnGoalNigeria.com picks five things new coach Jose Peseiro must have learnt from the two games as the team gets set for their first competitive game under his leadership on the 9th of May when they take on Sierra Leone in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers in Abuja.
1. Bonke can’t play in a 3-5-2 formation – Lorient of France midfielder Innocent Bonke started against Mexico in Peseiro’s first game at the helm. The coach deployed the team in a 3-5-2 formation with Bonke the deepest of the Nigerian midfielders.
Although he covered lot of grounds and won back possession. He clearly didn’t know what to do when on the ball particularly when under pressure. The teams didn’t get going until he was subbed off due to injury. Evidently he can’t function in a set up which places demands on midfielders to make better use of the play when in possession.
2. Time is ticking on Awaziem’s international career- For six years he failed to cement a spot as the centre back in the team. The thinking that Peseiro who handed Chidozie Awaziem his senior debut at Porto will naturally lean towards working with him as he rebuilds the team’s defence.
That isn’t the case at the moment as Semi Ajayi appears to have moved ahead of him in the pecking order. He played as a right back in both games and his performance isn’t something to be proud of. So poor that was he hooked off at the half time break yesterday. For now he isn’t a sure bet to start as right back or centre back. If that is the case after six years then it’s best to hand others the chance to challenge.
3. Calvin Bassey is here to stay – It’s safe to say that he was the best player for Nigeria over the course of both games. He was not just assured defensively. He was also a threat high up the pitch. That he can also play in central defence with ease means he is sure to be a mainstay of the team for a long while.
4. Uzoho isn’t that bad a goalkeeper- Francis Uzoho redeemed himself to an extent with two above average performances in both games. Read the lines well and handled properly. A massive improvement from his last showing where he gifted Ghana a cheap goal. It is hope that this game will boost his confidence which was badly dented by the incident in Abuja.
5. Emmanuel Dennis is a liability – Brilliant on the ball, poor of it and also very individualistic in his approach. He didn’t look like a player who wanted to be on the pitch. Missed two good sitters from inside the box against Mexico and almost cost the team twice when he walked away after losing possession instead of fighting to win it back. On both occasions Uzoho bailed the team out.
That Peseiro started Faisal, a defensive player ahead of him says a lot about how he probably perfomed in training. Yet to match his form at club level with a good showing for Nigeria. Three games, no goals, no assists isn’t what you expect from a forward who scored eleven goals for Watford.
