Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sunday Oliseh has warned the Super Eagles of Nigeria about their formation ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Soccernet.ng reports.
Amid criticism, Jose Peseiro, who led the Nigerian national team to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, adopted a new formation style that helped advance the team to the tournament final.
After Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, Peseiro adopted a 3-4-3 formation, which helped defeat the tournament host, Cote d’Ivoire, in the group stage, as well as other strong teams like South Africa and Cameroon.
Ex-Ajax player and former Super Eagles captain Oliseh acknowledged the Super Eagles' improvement during and after AFCON, which has placed them 28th in the FIFA World Ranking and among the top three in Africa.
“Nigeria has become relevant again. We are becoming relevant again in world football. People are taking notice of us again. These boys have been able to do something exceptional [that] we've not seen in the past ten years,” he said.
Oliseh believes the Super Eagles' achievements at the 2023 AFCON have reunited Nigerians and reignited their love for football.
“They have now rekindled the love from Nigerians. Nigerians are now interested in football again when it comes to the national team. And that is why I feel we must make very good use of it because it is important,” Oliseh added.
The former Nigeria international revealed that while the 3-4-3 formation proved successful at the Nations Cup, it has its disadvantages that won't secure them tickets to the 2026 World Cup.
“It showed that we were able to play more compactly again. But, I think if we are going to go forward in the World Cup qualifiers, you cannot park the bus and win,” he said.
Oliseh further emphasized the need for the team to reorganize their game to achieve better results, particularly in scoring more goals.
“This is where we have to now reorganize our game into a situation whereby we can score more goals fluently. Because we need goals to win and to qualify, that is why I feel we have improved,” he stated.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will welcome South Africa to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo and travel to tackle Benin Republic in continuation of their World Cup qualifiers campaign in June.
NB: Do you think the Super Eagles of Nigeria needs to continue with the 343 formation system? Leave your comments below.
