Head coach Jose Peseiro refused to offer explanations for his decision to start the game against Sierra Leone without a natural defensive midfielder and used the opportunity to remind everyone that, he’s in charge of the team.
Peseiro opted to start with an unfamiliar 4-2-4 formation, in his first competitive game in charge of the team.
Neither Frank Onyeka nor Oghenekaro Etebo was included in the starting line-up with Joe Aribo instead trusted to act as their deepest-lying midfielder.
The Super Eagles however failed to exert the same level of control as they have shown in the second half against Mexico and Ecuador, and were picked apart before falling behind to a John Morsay goal after 11 minutes.
Although the Super Eagles went into the break with a 2-1 lead, Peseiro was unsatisfied with the quality of play and substituted Sadiq Umar for Oghenekaro Etebo who later steadied the midfield.
Asked why he didn’t play with a defensive midfielder in the first half, Jose Peseiro offered no explanation but defended his decision.
He said: “I can play any player, I make the final decision. If I ask you, to give me your XI, it will be different from others. I believe in my players, it’s my responsibility to select the players according to our plans.”
The 2-1 victory means the Super Eagles remain second on the log, no thanks to Mauritius’s 5-1 mauling of Sao Tome and Principe.
COMMENTS