Alex Iwobi responds to criticism of Super Eagles’ tactical approach at 2023 AFCON
Fulham FC star Alex Iwobi has addressed criticism from some fans regarding Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro’s tactical approach in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Following the match against Equatorial Guinea, where Peseiro adopted a 3-4-3 formation, concerns were raised about the team’s lack of goals.
After creating 41 goal-attempts, with 14 on target and three goals scored during the group stage, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the tactics.
Iwobi who is a key player in the Super Eagles squad, defended the chosen formation, emphasizing its effectiveness in securing the team’s progress in the tournament.
He urged fans to be patient and trust in the coaching staff’s decisions.
Responding to concerns about goal-scoring, Iwobi acknowledged that goals might not be flowing at the moment but expressed confidence that the situation would improve as the team advances in the competition.
In a post-match interview after the victory over Guinea-Bissau, Iwobi highlighted the significance of the win in securing qualification for the next stage and outlined the team’s motivation to progress further in the tournament.
“The win over Guinea-Bissau means a lot to us as we qualify for the next stage, and our motivation is to win the next game. We want to take the game step by step as we want to win our next match, then we can have confidence that we can do the rest,” he stated.
Iwobi further defended the employed tactics, noting that the same formation was used against Ivory Coast. He emphasized that as long as the team secures victories, the specific tactical approach becomes secondary.
“The tactics used against Guinea-Bissau were good; it was the same formation against the Ivory Coast, and at the end of the day, the tactics work together, so we will just continue to use it as long as we win. As long as you win, any tactical approach does not matter.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to face Cameroon in the next stage of the tournament after securing all points against Guinea-Bissau, while Cameroon finished as Group C’s runners-up.
The Nigeria vs Cameroon 2023 AFCON round of 16 clash will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024 by 9pm.
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