TACTICAL MISSTEPS: HOW COACHING STRATEGIES HAVE HELD BACK THE SUPER EAGLES

Writers:

Onyeka Jessica

Opia Treasure

Olamide Sambo

Oyewobi Mary and Rahmot Salaudeen

The Super Eagles, Nigeria's national football team, have faced numerous challenges in recent years hindering their global progress. A closer examination of the team's performance reveals a m:ultitude of issues including poor player grooming, managerial inefficiencies, questionable tactical decisions, and unstable team formations. 

COACHING STRETCHES 

The inconsistent performance of the Super Eagles can be attributed to the varying coaching strategies employed over the years, highlighting the need for a more effective and sustainable approach to achieve global success." The Super Eagles' fluctuating performance on the global stage can be attributed to the diverse coaching strategies employed over the years. A closer examination of the approaches of notable coaches reveals both successes and limitations. Clemens Westerhof, a legendary figure in Nigerian football, won the 1994 AFCON and led Nigeria to its first World Cup. His focus on physical fitness and attacking play brought significant success. Westerhof's ability to blend young local players with experienced foreign-based ones created a strong and unified team. However, his rigid adherence to certain tactics and reliance on individual brilliance rather than team strategy limited the team's potential. Despite this, Westerhof's legacy remains an important part of Nigerian football history.

Bora Milutinović, nicknamed "The Pragmatic Interventionist," was brought in just before the 1998 World Cup. With extensive international coaching experience, he focused on defensive stability and fast counter-attacks. Although his short tenure meant prioritizing quick results over long-term growth, Nigeria's performance in the World Cup was notable, reaching the Round of 16. Milutinović's tactical acumen and mental preparation were evident, but his lack of long-term vision and connection with local football limited his overall impact.

Finidi George, a former Nigerian international, has taken on the role of head coach as of 2024. Appointed in May 2024, he combines attacking play with solid defense. George's approach involves selecting players from both the domestic league and abroad, fostering team depth and national pride. His playing experience and previous coaching stint at Enyimba FC inform his focus on discipline, quick passing, and tactical awareness. While his limited experience as an international head coach poses challenges, his connection to Nigerian football culture and support for local talent are promising.

Eric Chelle is the new head coach of the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles, appointed in January 2025. A Malian and French national, Chelle has a strong coaching background, having led Mali to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals. His tactical approach emphasizes a 4-3-1-2 formation, high-pressing game, and swift transitions. Chelle is known for his man-management skills, tailoring his approach to individual player personalities and needs. He aims to blend discipline and flair, building a solid defensive foundation while promoting attacking expression. However, the recent appointment of Coach Eric Chelle has been marred by controversy, with football analyst George criticizing Chelle's decisions during Nigeria's draw against Zimbabwe. Specifically, George noted that the coach prioritized fitting in all his star players over assembling the most effective team. The 87th-minute substitution of Victor Osimhen with Victor Boniface, despite Nigeria's lead and Tolu Arokodare still being on the pitch, drew particular criticism. Such choices have raised concerns about Chelle's tactical awareness and game management.

PLAYER SELECTION AND DEPLOYMENT

The Super Eagles, Nigeria's national football team, has long been a source of pride for the nation. Despite their rich history and talented players, the team has struggled to achieve World Cup success. One major factor contributing to this lack of success is the selection and deployment of players. The coach's discretion in selecting players is crucial, as former Super Eagles goalkeeper Sylvanus Okpala noted, "I don't like to question a coach's selection of players. It's his discretion to pick whoever he wants to pick and leave out whoever he wants." However, this discretion can sometimes lead to questionable decisions.

For instance, Jose Peseiro's 3-4-3 formation in the AFCON match against Cote d'Ivoire left the team's defense vulnerable and fatigued. The 3-4-3 formation, while innovative, can be challenging to execute effectively. In the match against Cote d'Ivoire, the Super Eagles held a lead for 24 minutes before conceding an equalizer. The narrow margin between victory and defeat highlights the importance of tactical decisions. Peseiro's reliance on star players in a demanding formation ultimately backfired, leaving the team vulnerable and fatigued. This experience raises concerns about the coach's strategy and its impact on the team's performance.

Furthermore, the loss of this match also raises questions about underlying risks, such as opting for a foreign coach versus a Nigerian coach. Despite Jose Peseiro's experience and pedigree, the over-reliance on a plethora of star players in a demanding formation backfired, leaving the team vulnerable and fatigued when it mattered most. Peseiro's 3-4-3 system at the AFCON placed him under fire from some commentators and supporters for hampering the Super Eagles, leading them to overly defensive play. For Nigeria, Jose won 10 games, drew 5, and lost 7, having a win ratio of 45.54%. This record suggests that while Peseiro has had some success, his tactics have also been criticized.

In addition to the issues with formations, player selection has also been a problem for the Super Eagles. Another tactical misstep where player selection has affected the Super Eagles is during the Super Eagles' draw against Equatorial Guinea in AFCON 2023, where Peseiro's decision to deploy Moses Simon in the right-wing role instead of his more familiar left-wing position disrupted the team's attacking dynamics. This tactical change affected Simon's comfort and effectiveness on the pitch, leading to a lack of cohesion and creativity in the team's attacking play. The absence of Calvin Bassey from the starting lineup meant that the team lacked a defender proficient at progressing the ball from defense. Bassey's omission hindered the team's ability to build play from the back and maintain possession effectively, impacting their overall performance.

Moreover, a player's physical disposition matters before a match. Their stance, confidence, and strides can indicate whether they are fired up or not. If a player approaches a match as if there is nothing at stake, there should be little or no expectation that they would perform well. A former Coordinator of the Super Eagles, Mr. Emmanuel Danjuma Attah, in an interview with Trust Sports after the 2022 World Cup match against Ghana, noted that players' body language can reveal their level of engagement. He stated, "From my experience in football and the years I served as the Coordinator of the Super Eagles, I can tell from players' body language if they are fired up or not. Before the match in Abuja, the players' body language wasn't encouraging. When the Eagles were coming out, I told someone seated close to me that I didn't like the body language of the boys. The only player who looked confident and in buoyant spirit was Victor Osimhen, and he showed that on the field. The rest played as if there was nothing at stake. They were completely lackadaisical in their approach." From this expert's statement, it can be inferred that a player's disposition can also make or mar a game.

The deployment of foreign-based players can also pose challenges. Some players may not fully understand the historical rivalry between Nigeria and other teams, leading to a lack of commitment and motivation. As Attah suggested, proper orientation and team building could help address this issue. Analyzing the lackadaisical attitude of some players in the match against Ghana, it is notable that some of the players were foreigners or "oyibos," and those who switched allegiance from their adopted countries to Nigeria really did not understand the historical rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana. If they were properly oriented, there is a high chance they would have given their all on the field to beat the Black Stars. It's noteworthy that most of these foreign players are not committed enough because they don't know much about this country. The overdependence on these players abroad was one of the reasons the Super Eagles lost the Qatar 2022 ticket. Keshi built his Super Eagles squad around home-based players; even foreign-based players struggled to make the team. As a matter of fact, during the 2013 AFCON qualifiers, he used mostly home-based players in 95% of his matches. It was only in the final qualifying match against Liberia that foreign-based players dominated. Interestingly, he went on to win the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. The Super Eagles' lack of World Cup success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including player selection, formation, physical disposition, and team dynamics. By learning from past experiences and adopting a more nuanced approach to player selection and deployment, the team can improve its chances of achieving World Cup glory.

IN-GAME DECISION MAKING

Substitutions are a major tactical tool for coaches, used to inject fresh energy, adjust formations, or exploit weaknesses in the opposition. For instance, during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, Stephen Keshi, the then-head coach, made a bold decision to bring on Sunday Mba, who later scored the winning goal. This move showcases how timely and strategic substitutions can have game-defining impacts. On the other hand, late or reactive substitutions can result in missed opportunities, as seen in Nigeria's 2021 AFCON exit against Tunisia, where changes came too late to influence the game. Similarly, in the AFCON 2023 match between the Super Eagles and Equatorial Guinea, which resulted in a draw, Peseiro's delay in making substitutions further compounded the team's struggle during the match. In situations like these, timely and strategic substitutions could have injected fresh energy and ideas into the team, potentially altering the course of the game. 

Tactical adjustments—such as shifting from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2—are often required during a match when the initial game plan isn’t effective. Coaches who recognize when their midfield is being overrun or their flanks exposed must act quickly to rectify the situation. José Peseiro, the current coach of the Super Eagles, has been both praised and criticized for his tactical choices. For instance, his decision to employ a more defensive shape against stronger opponents has sometimes stabilized Nigeria’s performance, but it has also drawn criticism for limiting attacking potential. This dilemma was evident in the AFCON 2023 match between the Super Eagles and Equatorial Guinea. In this match, Peseiro's tactical decisions, such as swapping Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman on the wings and preferring Frank Onyeka over Raphael Onyedika in midfield, were questionable. According to Akwawor (2024), these decisions seemed to hinder the team's performance, as the Super Eagles appeared to be a poorly coached team, lacking ideas on the pitch for 90 minutes. Peseiro's continuous tinkering and changes were evident in the team and proved to be the foundation for a lackluster display.

In addition to these issues, goalkeeping has been a recurring problem for the Super Eagles. During the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria suffered defeats to Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the Benin Republic, with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho coming under heavy criticism for failing to secure the goal line in critical moments. Similarly, Maduka Okoye was faulted by analysts for not doing enough to stop Youssef Msakni's decisive shot in the high-stakes match against Ghana, which ultimately led to Nigeria's exit. In-game decision-making is a critical component of football coaching, encompassing key areas such as substitutions, tactical adjustments and so on. Effective decisions in these areas can significantly influence the outcome of a match, especially at the international level, where margins are often thin. For the Nigerian national team—the Super Eagles—these coaching strategies have often determined their success or failure in crucial matches.

EXTERNAL FACTORS

In football, the performance of a national team is often judged by the tactics and decisions of the coach. However, many times, factors beyond the coach’s control can play a significant role in shaping the outcome of a match or tournament. These external factors such as player injuries, administrative interference, poor logistics, or last-minute squad changes, can disrupt even the best coaching strategies. For the Nigerian Super Eagles, such challenges have repeatedly interfered with their progress on the international stage. To fully understand how external factors have influenced the coaching strategies of the Super Eagles, it is important to examine real-life examples where unexpected challenges forced coaches to rethink their plans Victor Osimhen was supposed to lead the attack for Nigeria at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. But just weeks before the tournament, he suffered a serious facial injury playing for Napoli. As if that wasn’t enough, he also tested positive for COVID-19. The news shook the team and left Coach Augustine Eguavoen with a big gap to fill. The major impact was that Osimhen’s absence forced the coach to adjust his attacking plans. Without their top striker, the team struggled to convert chances and lacked the sharpness expected in front of goal. The Super Eagles started strong but couldn’t maintain the momentum, eventually crashing out in the Round of 16. 

Furthermore, management issues continue to plague the team, with both the coach and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sharing responsibility for the Super Eagles' underwhelming performances. Decision-making at the top level has often been reactive rather than strategic, affecting critical aspects such as player selection and match preparation. This lack of foresight has been compounded by external challenges, one notable example being the case of Emmanuel Dennis. The talented forward, who was on fire in the English Premier League, was blocked from joining the team by his club, Watford FC, which claimed that the NFF hadn’t sent his invitation early enough. As a result, the Super Eagles were deprived of one of their most in-form forwards at a crucial time, forcing the coach to rework his attacking options just days before the tournament. This not only disrupted team balance but also reduced the attacking variety needed to face tough opponents.

In October 2024, the team faced a completely different kind of problem — travel stress. On their way to play Libya in an AFCON qualifier, the Super Eagles’ flight was diverted to a small airport not meant for international arrivals. The players and coaching staff were stuck at Al Abraq Airport for over 12 hours without food, proper rest, or even communication. The major impact this had was that the match was eventually called off, and Nigeria was awarded a 3-0 win. But the damage was already done. The coaches lost a chance to test tactics and player combinations. Training plans were ruined, and team morale took a hit. These types of distractions make it hard for coaches to stay focused on football.

The lack of a structured system for developing and integrating young talents has hindered the Super Eagles' progress. Players often transition in and out of the team quickly, without benefiting from mentorship or exposure to the team's culture, resulting in a disconnect between the team's legacy and its future. This ultimately undermines team cohesion and identity, emphasizing the need for a more sustainable approach to talent development and team building.

In this riveting sports article, our talented team of writers - Onyeka Jessica, Opia Treasure, Olamide Sambo, Oyewobi Mary and Rahmot Salaudeen - delve into the intricacies of the sports world. They bring to life the passion, dedication, and sheer grit that athletes display on and off the field. From insightful analysis to exclusive interviews, this piece is a must-read for every sports enthusiast. Stay tuned for more such engaging content from our brilliant team.