Former Super Eagles goalkeeper supports Peseiro’s AFCON squad choices
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Sylvanus Okpala has thrown his support behind Jose Peseiro’s squad choices for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), highlighting the importance of understanding the tactical motivations behind player selection.
Peseiro recently finalized his 25-man squad from an initial list of 40 players, sparking discussions within the Nigerian football community about the team’s chances at the tournament.
Speaking on Brila FM, Okpala expressed his stance on the matter, stating, “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 to.”
Okpala firmly believes that a coach’s selection should not be prematurely judged without a comprehensive understanding of the tactical considerations influencing the choices.
Delving into the intricacies of squad selection, Okpala underscored the impact of the coach’s tactical plan and preferred formations on the selection process. “Every player has different characteristics, so he has to pick, based on his strategy, the formation he wants to play,” Okpala elaborated.
He continued, “And you know, that’s how he has to pick the player. And that is why I don’t like to question the selection of coaches—who they have selected or who they have not selected. So I just leave it to the coach.” Okpala’s approach is rooted in the belief that judgement should be reserved until the team’s performance on the field can be assessed in real-time scenarios.
Nigeria’s AFCON campaign is set to commence on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea, followed by a crucial encounter with Ivory Coast.
The group stage journey concludes with a match against Guinea Bissau on January 22.
