Nigeria
If there’s one country that can’t wait for the 2023 AFCON to start, it has to be Nigeria. The past two years have been torrid for the Super Eagles after their round of 16 exit in the 2021 AFCON and failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Even though Nigeria have won the AFCON three times and medalled 15 times, there is a sense of underachievement because Nigerians typically always want more. In 2013, when Nigeria were crowned champions, no one saw it coming. The problem is with the amount of talent they boast these days, everyone has an eye out for them, making an already arduous task even tougher.
In case there were any doubts concerning expectations, the official Super Eagles 2023 AFCON theme song has “Let’s do it again” being repeated in the hook. José Peseiro will face similar challenges to Gernot Rohr and Augustine Eguavoen; when you’re the coach of Nigeria, you simply have to win the AFCON. He says his side will fight to win the trophy in Ivory Coast but do Nigerians believe in him? Not really.
Peseiro Still Unpopular
Peseiro ticks several boxes. He’s very experienced, having worked in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. He has a master’s degree in sports science. He’s worked with the likes of José Mourinho and Carlos Queiroz, and worked at Real Madrid as an assistant.
But none of that matters when you don’t win, especially when you’re head coach of Nigeria. The Portuguese manager has been in charge of the Super Eagles for 14 games and only won six, while losing five.
While the qualification process for this AFCON edition was smooth, there’s overall concern about the balance of the team — the majority of Nigerians feel it makes them susceptible to counterattacks.
Peseiro’s favoured 4-2-4 formation sees him play four attackers at a time, a system that has worked against inferior opponents like in their 10-0 win over São Tomé and Príncipe in qualification. However, in the recent World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria dropped points against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, conceding in both games. They also lost a pre-tournament friendly against Guinea 2-0 on 8 January.
When there are so many in-form attackers in a squad, they must play and that’s what Peseiro is trying to do.
Attacking Depth Like No Other
If you were to name your ideal type of striker, there is a high likelihood that your answer will be found in Nigeria’s squad. Is it a target man? A striker that runs behind? A striker that can drop deep and play as a playmaker? Nigeria have it all.
Like the last AFCON, the build-up has been largely dominated by the strength in depth Nigeria have in attack. The Super Eagles were unlucky in Cameroon as Victor Osimhen (injury + COVID), Emmanuel Dennis (administrative error), Paul Onuachu (injury) and Odion Ighalo (club issues) all missed the tournament.
This time, they’ve been dealt the big blow of losing Victor Boniface to injury on the eve of the tournament, with the Bayer Leverkusen star leaving the squad on 8 January. Taiwo Awoniyi, the man who stepped up to replace Osimhen in the previous tournament, also misses out through injury. The usual suspects of Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Ahmed Musa, Sadiq Umar and Samuel Chukwueze will all be present, while Terem Moffi — who has scored six goals in 16 Ligue 1 games for Nice this season — was the late replacement for Boniface.
Onuachu, Cyril Dessers and Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella all failed to make the cut. It comes as no surprise that the Super Eagles scored the most goals in the qualifiers.
The headache for Peseiro is who to start with, as in the past few months he has constantly rotated the squad. The temptation to use as many attackers as possible has also seen his team concede in 11 of the 14 games he’s been in charge.
The Goalkeeping Conundrum
The majority of the goals conceded by first-choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho have been avoidable. The problem with Nigeria’s goalkeeping department stems from the retirement of Vincent Enyeama back in 2015.
The Super Eagles have just not managed to replace the man who won over 100 caps for the national team. Maduka Okoye, who was the goalkeeper in the last AFCON, was axed from the team after his error saw Tunisia eliminate the three-time winners.
Uzoho has been between the posts for 13 of the 14 matches Peseiro has overseen. Adebayo Adeleye, the only other goalkeeper to get a chance, didn’t make the squad. Alongside Uzoho, the selection includes Olorunleke Ojo and Stanley Nwabili — they have one Nigeria cap between them.
Uzoho will likely retain his place in goal, but Nigerians don’t have confidence in him, especially after his mistake cost them a place at the 2022 World Cup.
If you have a goalkeeper you don’t trust, your only hope is to outscore all opponents to win games.
Osimhen to Lead Nigeria to Glory?
Osimhen and Boniface are Nigeria’s most in-form players at the present time. A lot of the goalscoring burden in Ivory Coast was expected be on the shoulders of these two forwards.
However, following a groin injury, Boniface has been ruled out of AFCON 2023 late in the day and replaced by Nice forward Moffi.