The senior national team of Nigeria forced Benin Republic to a 1-1 draw in the race to be at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Victor Osimhen rescued a point for Nigeria with nine minutes left to play when his well placed header from a pin point delivery from Moses Simon drew Nigeria level. The result sealed their spot at the tournament with a game to spare.
However the Super Eagles were not at their best, and we pick five possible reasons why they struggled against a Benin Republic side who were playing at their adopted home ground in Cote d’Ivoire.
1. Poor Tactics: Coach Austine Eguavoen decision to go with a 3-4-3 formation limited the team’s loaded attack because the formation had them playing with five defensive minded players. The team improved almost instantaneously when he switched to a back four just before the start of the second half.
2. Starting Iheanacho: Not a bad player on his day but starting him on the right side of a three man attack is similar to setting him to fail. The decision also obstructed the balance of the team which was corrected before the second half when he was subbed off for Moses Simon, who set up Osimhen for the leveler.
3. Stanley Nwabali: The header which handed Benin Republic the lead was straight at him and he should have done better. His reflex wasn’t top there and it almost cost the team.
4. Osimhen Decisive But Wasteful – Although he drew the team level nine minutes from time with a firm header. He could have given the game an entirely different outlook if he had buried the header that was the last chance of the first half, and perhaps their only clear cut chance of the half. Going into the break trailing affected their display in the second half.
5. Knowing They Have Qualified Already – The players determination to push for a revenge at the stadium where their world cup campaign took a big hit when they lost 1-2 to the same team went really low when reports got to them that Libya’s win over Rwanda in Kigali has sealed their spot at the AFCON. They went into the game with nothing really to play for and only responded when it was clear that they could be beaten.
