Peseiro reveals strategy to cage Indomitable Lions

Nigeria’s Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro gives a press conference at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 26, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Nigeria and Cameroon. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, says the team’s approach against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday is to defend as a unit, while being clinical in front of opposition goal.

The gaffer said this on Friday in Abidjan at a pre-match press conference ahead of the epic clash.

“I don’t want to concede goals tomorrow (Saturday), I want to score at least one. If we do this, we will beat Cameroon,” Peseiro said.

NAN reports that that the coach’s switch to a more defensive 3-4-3 formation in the group stage had resulted in scrappy wins against Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau and a draw against eventual group A leaders Equatorial Guinea.

The coach said the most important thing at this stage was to win and advance to the quarter-finals stage.

He expressed optimism that the team’s goal poacher and Napoli hit man, Victor Osimhen, would start firing again from the knock out stage.

“For our next match (Cameroon), Osimhen will score; he’s important for the team. He’s the top scorer, but this is a different tournament and tough competition.

“He deserves to reach the top position because against Equatorial Guinea, he created so many chances and he scored.

“Did Equatorial Guinea beat us? No, we shared the points, and I know we will beat them next time because it’s not easy in this competition,” he said.

The Portuguese tactitian also dispelled rumours on a rift with Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, who has not featured in the tournament, owing to earlier injury.

He hinted on the