During the last International break, the Super Eagles drew 2-2 against Saudi Arabia and scraped a narrow win against ten-man Mozambique.
A second half equalizer from West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi helped Jose Peseiro’s men to a 1-1 draw against Lesotho despite a lackluster performance, Soccernet.ng reports.
Taking a deeper delve into the game, Soccernet.ng brings you five takeaways from the match that was played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
1. The Super Eagles missed Victor Osimhen.
The team had chances to score but were simply not clinical enough. Taiwo Awoniyi and Ademola Lookman came close to scoring, but they all lacked the deft finishing touch.
2. The Super Eagles need a creative midfielder.
Dating back to the last international friendly in October, the need for a creative midfielder has been evident and it showed again today.
The midfield duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi couldn’t muster up anything tangible, as the Fulham midfielder was playing out of position and left a massive workload for Onyeka.
3. Starting four strikers won’t work for Peseiro.
The Portuguese tactician started Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi and Victor Boniface.
While Iheanacho and Boniface dropped off into midfield to get the ball a few times, but the team struggled with synergy and communication as the four attackers made run in behind sometimes, leaving the midfield empty with no one to play the final pass.
4. Peseiro still not convincing.
The ex-Porto manager’s playing style has not been evident after being in charge for over a year. The display against Lesotho today was lacklustre and one might wonder what is to come for the upcoming AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast next year.
5. Semi Ajayi in good form after returning from injury.
The central defender missed a couple of games for his club side in the Championship and returned in the early days of November as he was slowly integrated into the side by Carlos Corberan.
Since then, the 29-year-old scored against Hull City two weeks ago and came up with Nigeria’s equalizer today.
Dis team will never go to next word cup if they don’t change dis yeye Coach
Let that coach be sacked now or we risk not winning a single match at AFCON. After all these poor results, I still can’t believe that the NFF will still allow that underperforming coach to remain there to toy with the emotions of the Nigerian football fans. Enough of this unseriousness
NFF should please listen to Nigerian fans by sacking this coach. Peseiro is not better than super falcons coach. Waldron should be appointed immediately. Peseiro will not be able to qualify super eagles to the world cup and with this coach Nigeria will not qualify from the group match of next year nations cup
the is vey bad
Never believed in pepsiero his ideas and tactics date back to the age of dinosaurs. Nigeria will not do well at the nations cup and definitely will not qualify the world cup. He needs to take a bike. There are better tacticians around.
Let that coach go now! We need a better coach.
Stopped watching SE matches since their game against Saudi Arabia. And for goodness sake, the Super Eagles should stop using Akpabio Stadium for their home matches; it’s like the guys are more interested in Akwa-Ibom girls than they are in their training.
Shows how out of touch with reality you are
NFF need to look for another manager.
I really detest when they bring mediocre oyinbo managers to coach Nigeria when a Nigerian or another Afrikan could do the job better #PeseiroOut
The coach does not understand our boys. He lack the tactics of modern football. Amuneke can do better than this. We don’t value our own
No good coach will accept massive pay cut from his employer, Paseiro accepted NFF pay cut bcos he knew that no club or country will employ him if he turned down the offer, as he needs to pay bills
That’s says alot about his ability as a coach.
Nigerians should forget about 2026 world cup and Africa Nations cup, as long as Paseiro remains our coach.
I come in peace!
We will not qualify for the World Cup if this coach is not changed and we cannot achieve anything under his tenure… He is mediocre at best!