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Nigeria lost to Mali in a competitive football game in Morocco for the first time in 49 years. In this report, JOHNNY EDWARD highlights six reasons why the Super Eagles lost to Les Aigles at the Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday
1. Uncoordinated defence line
The friendly games against Ghana and Mali was to serve as an audition for George Finidi, who was in charge of the team on an interim basis, but the Eagles’ lacklustre display in those friendlies has called for his further evaluation.
Finidi kept faith with ex-coach Jose Peseiro’s defensive formation against Mali on the back of his first win (against Ghana) in charge of the team four days earlier.
But this time, his defence was punished following a combination of defensive errors and poor passes.
The Eagles struggled to play out of defence due to the high pressing of the Malians and it was no surprise that the first goal by Les Aigles was a direct result of their aggression.
Chidozie Awaziem, who started on the right of the back three alongside Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi, lacked composure and was pressured into making a pass across his box straight at Bilal Toure, who made no mistake in getting the ball past Stanley Nwabali. They missed the calming presence of injured William Troost-Ekong.
Vice-captain, Kenneth Omeruo, was also culpable of misplaced passes and was beaten for pace when Kamory Doumbia ran past him to seal Mali’s first win in over four decades firing his shot past a helpless Nwabali, who stood no chance.
Eagles wing backs Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamilu Collins also didn’t do enough to support the team in attack when they had the chance to.
2. Lack of creativity
Finidi paired Raphael Onyedika and Wilfred Ndidi in a double pivot in midfield. Both players are naturally anchor men and neither being a box-to-box midfielder.
They both don’t possess the offensive capability to drive the team’s attack forward, which left the Eagles once again craving for a natural creative midfielder.
Fans had expected more creative spark from trio Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon in attack but they rarely troubled the Malian defence throughout the game.
Though they maintained possession in their half, they could not turn it into anything meaningful and struggled to create chances, as they looked lacklustre for most of the game.
3. Dessers failed to grab chance
The Eagles were depleted by the absence of key strikers Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu due to injury but in their absence, Cyriel Dessers failed to stake a claim for future invitations.
Although Dessers was on target against Ghana last Friday, through a penalty, he should have netted once before that goal and possibly a couple after his 38th-minute strike against the Black Stars.
Against Mali, the Belgium-born striker showed his profligacy when he came on for Moses Simon, missing crucial chances that could have changed the outcome for Nigeria. He had the golden chance to draw the Eagles level in the 60th minute but skied his shot wide. His link-up play with his teammates was poor and he failed to justify his inclusion in the team.
4. Osimhen absence felt
Despite not being at his clinical best at the AFCON 2023 tournament, Osimhen will remain Eagles’ first choice when fit.
The Napoli striker undoubtedly offers way more than any other Nigerian striker in terms of hold-up play, pressing and teamwork. In Osimhen’s absence, Dessers and Simon, who played as No.9 games against Ghana and Mali failed to threaten the opposing defence. Kelechi Iheanacho also showed why his best role is just behind the striker and not being a striker.
5. Eagles lacked game-changers
Despite missing top stars for the friendlies against Ghana and Mali, the Eagles in recent games have lacked players capable of changing the course of a game from the substitute’s bench. That was evident in Marrakech as Finidi’s substitutions failed to make impacts in both games. He brought on Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Raphael Onyedika in the first game against Ghana but the trio’s performance was left to be desired. Against Mali Dessers and Lookman failed to inspire the team.
His decision not to hand minutes to trio, Nathan Tella, Sadiq Umar and Al Hassan Yusuf in both friendly games remains a mystery while his choice to stick with a defensive formation in friendly games has left much to be desired of his capabilities as a coach.