The former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Clement Westerhof has taken a swipe at former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro for the manner which the team played at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Peseiro’s team were beaten in the final by the host of the tournament Cote d’Ivoire, who came from a goal down to win 2-1. That game was the last time the Portuguese handled the team as he left his role upon the expiration of his contract.
Reacting to the game, Westerhof who led the Super Eagles to AFCON glory in 1994 and also qualified the team for the first time ever for the world cup said the tactics of the coach, and his decision not to subbed off Osimhen in the final cost Nigeria the title.
” Osimhen wasn’t at his best in that game. The pressure got to him and he lost balls he ordinarily shouldn’t and that put pressure on the team, but you have to be fair with him because he was left all alone in ten attack. A reason why you have to look at the tactics of the coach”, he said.
” The coach (Peseiro) didn’t set them up to dominate. They were just there to contain. Such kind of tactics don’t help forward players but Osimhen should have done better with the balls that came his way”, he concluded.
Ade Emmanuel
