'Defended as a team, from Victor to the GK' - Iwobi admits formation change helped Super Eagles beat CIV

Alex Iwobi has admitted that the change of formation helped the Super Eagles register a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ivory Coast in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match on Thursday.

Manager Jose Peseiro made the decision to change from the 4-3-3 tactical system that he used in the 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea as they were up against a top team and host nation backed by their vociferous fans at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan.

The Portuguese set up his team in a 3-4-3 formation and the change in system paid dividends as the Super Eagles managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time in seven matches. 

Though the 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 systems share a front three, Iwobi revealed that the Super Eagles players worked in tandem and defended as a unit. 

The only goal of the encounter came ten minutes into the second half when William Troost-Ekong slammed in a penalty, awarded for a foul on Victor Osimhen. 

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the Ivory Coast v Nigeria game, Iwobi said: "The formation was different. We defended as a team, from Victor to the goalkeeper, everyone defended well so I feel like that formation change helped us.

"We have to concentrate on the next game, we take it game by game but we have the belief that we can do so, we have to wait and see.

"We are afraid of no one but we treat every team with respect. "
 

After two matches in Group A, Nigeria are level on four points with table toppers Equatorial Guinea ahead of facing Guinea-Bissau on Monday, January 22.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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