Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, has given reasons why he lost his first game in charge of the Super Eagles.
According to him, the Super Eagles struggled in the first half due to a blunder in the team’s set-up as he made some tactical alterations during a friendly with Mexico last week.
Mexico defeated Nigeria 2-1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Peseiro, a big fan of the 3-5-2, started with Chidozie Awaziem, William Troost-Ekong, and Semi Ajayi in the centre, flanked by Moses Simon and Calvin Bassey on the wings.
The plan backfired when El Tri seized the lead in the 12th minute and the Eagles failed to register a single shot on goal in the first half.
Peseiro then switched to a back four, which improved the team’s efficiency, as Cyril Desser headed in for 1-1.
The Mexicans prevailed thanks to an unlucky Troost-Ekong own goal.
“We cannot hide it; we played a very bad first half.
“We had five players in defence, and they had two players playing forward and the two players controlled the five. They were pressing and we did not solve it. We cannot have that.
“We decided that if the two was controlling the three, then we have to make it a four and have more control in midfield.
“And it helped us take control of the game,” Peseiro told ESPN.
Missing so many first-team players including Captain Ahmed Musa and being the first time they were coming together for any session since the disappointment of 2022 FIFA World Cup ticket miss, the three –time African champions were projected to be sitting ducks for the Mexicans to roast in the State of Texas.
The Eagles will be in action in another friendly on June 2nd when they will face Ecuador in New Jersey.
