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

Authors: Onyeka Jessica, Opia Treasure, Sambo Olamide, Oyewobi Mary & Salaudeen Rahmot.

Nigeria Super Eagle Football Team 

"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." 

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. 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.

The deployment of foreign-based players can also pose challenges.

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.

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-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.