FEATURE ARTICLE

Sunday, January 21, 2024
[email protected]
Belgium
THE "ELEPHANTS" OF COTE D'IVOIRE FALL AT HOME TO THE GRITTY SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA!

t was a very, very, very rugged match, meant for very rugged players and soccer fans not feeble at heart!

Coach Peseiro apparently foresaw the trend of the match and, radically, changed the Super Eagles' formation to suit the type of match played between two great soccer nations, with five Nations' cup successes between them.

Coach Peseiro opted for a rather 'unconventional' 5-3-2 formation. 'Unconventional' given his penchant for offensive soccer. This time around, he played a highly modified offensive soccer, with a very solid five-man defensive line starring:

" The usually brilliant" Olaoluwa Aina, at right-back;

Zaidu Sanusi, was at left-back;

Stand-in Skipper William Troost-Ekong , alias "Rock of Gibralter", was at right-half back or right-sided central defender;

Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, alias " The gentleman giant", was at centre-half back;

"The kwinkling-tinkling" Calvin Bassey, was at left-half back, or the left-sided central defender.

And a modified three-man mid-field that starred:

Frank Onyeaka, as the defensive mid-fielder;

Samuel Chukwueze, alias " El Fantastico", as the right-sided offensive/ right wing offensive mid-fielder and Alex Iwobi, alias " the dancing Krekel", as the creative midfielder, who operated mainly from the centre and left side of the Super Eagles' offensive putsch.

And a two-man strike force that featured:

Victor Osimhen, alias "El Magnifico", as deepest striker and Ademola Lookman, as supporting striker.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, was solid in goal! And with the brilliant interventions he made, gives Nigerians hope that a solid and confident goalkeeper is slowly rising for the Super Eagles of Nigeria!

The Super Eagles were solid in their organisation. They played the 5-3-2 formation to near perfection and gave the hosts no decent quarters to trouble them. In an old commentator's parlance: the Super Eagles' defence was, 'air-tight', 'water-tight' !

The Ivorians tried as hard as they could but found the Super Eagles' organisation a hard nut to crack!

Thus, the Super Eagles deservedly won 1-0, and got all three points at stake! Kudos to the Super Eagles of Nigeria!!!!!

It doesn't make sense praising the players individually, as they all played well!

The substitutes:

Simon Moses, alias " The Atilogwu dancer";

"Field Marshall" Kenneth Omeruo;

Bright Osayi-Samuel and Paul Onuachu, all did well.

A great deal of kudos to Coach Jose Peseiro and his assisitants, for the near-perfect organisation of the Super Eagles against the host's team!

In conclusion, the Super Eagles' victory against the host team, gives us hope that they are capable of reaching any height at the "2023 CAF Nations' cup competition"!

The Super Eagles need to constantly and firmly keep their feet on the ground and their eyes constantly on the target as they face each opposition one at a time.

UP SUPER EAGLES! UP NIGERIA !!!!!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976765951/ref=sr_1_7…

and "Super Eagles of Nigeria in the New Era", also presently on sale on www. Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Eagles-Nigeria-New-Era/dp/B09P7MGP4P/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1641064306&sr=8-1

Also at the link below, one can come into contact with a number of items, needed to support the Super Eagles at "COTE D' IVOIRE 2023" !!!!!

https://teespring.com/stores/super-eagles-of-nigeria

The book "Super Eagles of Nigeria : Pride of Africa" and "Super Eagles of Nigeria in the New Era" can also be gotten through me using my e-mail address as contact point. [email protected]