AFCON 2023: Nigeria’s formation key to stopping Côte d’Ivoire’s attack – Rohr

Gernot Rohr

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has said that the formation deployed by Jose Peseiro-led coaching crew was key in stopping Côte d’Ivoire’s attack.

The Eagles got their AFCON campaign back on track with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Côte d’Ivoire in Thursday’s Group A clash.

Nigeria’s captain on the day, William Troost-Ekong, converted a 55th-minute penalty following a foul on Victor Osimhen.

It was a game that saw the Ivorians struggle to create clear-cut opportunities and at some point, they resorted to unproductive long-range strikes that did not threaten the Nigerian goalie Stanley Nwabali.

The win saw the Eagles go second on four points behind Equatorial Guinea, who also have four points thanks to their 4-2 win against Guinea-Bissau.

“Very nice victory for the Nigerian team against Ivory Coast who were not in the game at all,” Rohr said in his post-match analysis on the X handle of former BBC reporter Osasu Obayiuwana.

“Very good organisation, 5-4-1, it was decisive (for Super Eagles) because we didn’t see the Ivory Coast strikers.

“The five defenders, two on the side did a good job and in the midfield Alex Iwobi did very well with Onyeka also Chukwueze and Lookman came back to help and were in good offensive situation as wingers when Nigeria had the ball.

“It’s a very good result, I’m happy for my former players because they’ve been so many criticism and they responded with this match against the host country.”

However, the current Benin Republic head coach cautioned the Eagles not to be complacent.

“They must be careful and remain humble because at the last AFCON they won all their group games but lost in the round of 16, each match is very important,” Rohr said.

The German singled out Chukwueze