Eric Chelle’s tactical genius was on full display at the Fes Sporting Complex in Morocco as the Super Eagles swept aside Mozambique to book their place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Footynaija.com reports.
Having alternated between a 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-3-3 during the group stage, Chelle opted for the latter in the round-of-16 showdown. This setup allowed the Super Eagles to dictate the tempo of the game, stretch the pitch and suffocate Mozambique through relentless pressing.
With a three-man midfield setup featuring Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, Nigeria seized control early on in the game and simply never loosened their grip on what panned out to be a one-sided contest in Fes.
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Chelle’s decision to deploy a 4-3-3 proved pivotal as the system’s natural width stretched Mozambique’s backline and created pockets of space in the middle of the park for Iwobi to operate freely.
By isolating full-backs in one-v-one situations, the Super Eagles forced errors and opened passing lanes that allowed the Fulham man to dictate tempo from deep. Nigeria’s structure also made transitions smoother, ensuring the team could move the ball quickly into the final third and cause problems for the Mambas.
Another aspect of the game that the Super Eagles executed to perfection was the intensity of their pressing. The front three executed a coordinated press from the first whistle, forcing Mozambique wide and triggering turnovers in dangerous areas.
This high-intensity approach left the Mambas with little time on the ball and disrupted their rhythm throughout the 90 minutes. Iwobi, particularly thrived on the freedom this system afforded, linking play and supplying attacking outlets.
Meanwhile Ndidi and Onyeka’s combined tenacity and ball-winning abilities ensured the midfield remained compact and unbreachable. The result of Nigeria’s relentless pressing was a match dominated both in and out of possession.
Key adjustments made by Nigeria
Unlike previous outings where they might have eased off after scoring, the Super Eagles maintained full intensity for the entire match. Chelle’s charges stayed on the front foot, constantly looking to advance and punish any lapses in Mozambique’s setup.
At the heart of defence, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey delivered impressively composed performances, cutting off channels and marshalling that Mozambican forward line with authority to produce Nigeria’s first clean sheet of the tournament.
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