In the aftermath of the Super Eagles’ drawn match against Equatorial Guinea in their AFCON 2024 opener, former Super Eagles forward, Brown Ideye, has called on football fans in Nigeria to refrain from solely blaming Head Coach Jose Peseiro.
Ideye emphasized the need for players to take accountability for their decisions and performances on the field.
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Ideye stated, “We all keep on bashing and pointing fingers at the coach. The coach does not go on the pitch and play. The coach only brings out his 11 players and makes substitutes and everything.
So it is high time we start holding the players accountable for most of their decisions and most of the performance they are putting on in the pitch.”
Expressing his perspective on the match, Ideye highlighted a tactical approach that could have been taken in the late stages of the game. He suggested, “For me, I think from what I saw, I feel like the last 20 minutes, you have nothing to lose.
If you can only play two defenders and try to bring in another striker to support Osimhen upfront, you have nothing to lose. You need to score goals.”
Ideye expressed concern about the lone striker setup, advocating for additional attacking support to Victor Osimhen.
He commented, “Having just Osimhen upfront for me, I don’t see it like a good decision to allow Osimhen to play a game alone for the whole 90 minutes.”
Brown Ideye’s remarks shed light on the nuanced dynamics between coaching decisions and on-field execution, urging a more comprehensive analysis of the game.
As the Super Eagles prepare for their upcoming clash with Ivory Coast, Ideye’s perspective underscores the importance of a collective effort from both players and coaching staff for success in the AFCON tournament.
