Did Eguavoen's Super Eagles Do Enough To Overcome Benin?

I didn't see much of the match against Benin to give a rounded review but I thought Eguavoen was brave and perhaps arrogant with a tinge of carelessness to go all-guns-blazing against the opposition.

The parts is saw, particularly in the first half, Super Eagles assumed a 5-2-3 offensive posture with wingbacks Aina and Onyemaechi pushed higher up the pitch to support wingers Lookman and Iheanacho to have 5 players in attacking positions.

It provided much width and expanded the landscape. Communication was good. Onyemaechi and Lookman particularly: they bounced off each other brilliantly with good timings and precision passes that were pulsating . Aina on the right was bullish with his runs and purposeful in his deliveries.

Eguavoen's plan was open and clear but it still didn't prevent it from working. It was all about the crosses from the flanks to Osimhen to pounce. Again, this worked a treat as cross after cross landed in Benin's 18 yard box. Iwobi could have converted one of those crosses but his body shape was all wrong and his attempted backflck shot was embarrassingly badly executed. Osimhen connected beautifully with one but dragged his header just wide before making no mistake later on to head home with grace and elegance.

Nigeria, with their one-trick-pony approach actually created some promising goal scoring chances. They were well coordinated and controlled possession. But Benin had an excellent game plan to lie in wait and ambush the Super Eagles with ruthlessness in counter-attacks which led them to have the neater, better and more precise scoring chances.

Benin unleashed 12 shots at goal against Nigeria's 5 shots but the Super Eagles bossed possession with 68% against Benin's 32%.

Unfortunately, the Super Eagles struggled to time their runs having been caught offside at times,one of which was contentious after Iheanacho's neat through pass located Lookman's run who was wrongly flagged offside.

On the issue of Iheanacho, he is not a winger. He is now solely a centre forward who can also function as a support striker.

He delivered some beautiful cross-field long balls which located Lookman. His passes, when he drifted inside, still looked menacing. But, wide right, he was widely ineffective.

Playing 3 centre backs and 1 defensive midfielder with the wingbacks pushed higher up caused Nigeria vulnerabilities. The Beninois found acres of space to play with and wreck havoc. If they had had they precision boots on, Nigeria would easily have conceded 2 more goals.

Nwabili showed signs of rustiness in this match which was uncharacteristic.

Gabriel Osho had a baptism of fire because Nigeria's overly attacking approach meant he didn't have as much support as would have been afforded by the wingback and centre midfielders. There would be no honeymoon period for him.

Ekong is a leader but also a liability at times.

Nigeria continues to exhibit poor concentration, poor organisation and poor communication when defending corner kick routines.

And, to me, Moses Simon is way more effective on the left wide wing area than Lookman. Lookman however is more effective the closer to the box 18 where he operates with cool detached wickedness.

I wish I could see more of the match and will continue combing YouTube for this.

But for what I saw, I don't think Ndidi and Iwobi can do the heavy midfield lifting needed for such an offensive orientated formation to work. Ndidi maybe but Iwobi now rarely scores goals: a midfielder with an uncanny knack of bulging the back of the net is needed for this formation to yield the goal(s) needed.

Iheanacho has to be seen as substitute centre forward who actually brings others in to score, rather than score himself. He still has remnants of quality here and there.

What about the defence? Bassey is error prone and Ekong lacks pace and doesn't always win aerial battles and can be found in no-man's land. Osho needs time to bed in.

This Super Eagles side has issues, major issues. But a decent coach can carve out a work-around. I am no coach but if certain issues are not addressed, we might as well kiss the 2026 World Cup ticket goodbye!