'Could have scored a second goal' - Peseiro stands by Zaidu as he explains fullback role in 3-4-3 system 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro defended the performance of Zaidu Sanusi after his side's 1-0 victory over Angola in a quarterfinal clash of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

In a pulsating confrontation, Nigeria booked a semifinal ticket thanks to Ademola Lookman's match-winning goal in the 41st minute and could have had more goals in the second half but Victor Osimhen saw his header correctly chalked off for offside after a VAR check while Zaidu's free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Signori Antonio.

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has favoured a 3-4-3 system in his team's last four games at the AFCON with Zaidu and Ola Aina his preferred players in the left wing-back and right wing-back role respectively. 

The Porto man has been identified as the weak link in a Nigeria team that has been defensively solid with four consecutive clean sheets. 

But Peseiro has leapt to the defence of Zaidu, saying that the fullback role in a 3-4-3 formation takes a lot of energy out of the players because of the space the wide midfielders have to cover. 

Regarding the performance of Zaidu, Peseiro said at the post-match press conference: "It's not easy playing fullback in this system because they must go back and forth.

"It's different energy, one guy running in the middle and running 5m, 10m at the same speed, but the fullback goes and comes with speed and in some moment is not fresh. If he's not fresh, does not make good decisions.

"When you play with a 3-4-3 like we play and our wingers play inside, normally we change the two fullbacks to stay fresh.

"Zaidu played better in this match than last match in my opinion. In the first half, three against two and he allowed the guy from the back to get the ball.

"His shooting was good and could have scored a second goal, but I know all the players can do mistakes, I don't like the mistakes but can do mistakes. All my players played well, I am very happy with them."

In Wednesday's semifinal, Nigeria will face either South Africa or Cape Verde at the Stade de la Paix, Bouaké.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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