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Atletico Madrid dazzler Ademola Lookman was far from his best during Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Madagascar in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday evening.
The former African Footballer of the Year was unable to influence the game, so much so that he made way for Tolu Arokodare with twenty-one minutes left on the clock.
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle deployed his side in a 4-4-2 formation at the start of the match before changing to a 4-2-3-1 setup as the game progressed.
Lookman was expected to operate between the lines and create openings, but Chelle highlighted that the Super Eagles had to use the flanks to stretch the opposition before attempting to play through the middle.
“We played between the lines and they have to feel when they have to go from the side and when they have to go inside,” Chelle explained during his post-match press conference.
“Once you are playing against a low block, you have to pass by the side, go to the left, go to the right, and after three or four times you can find a pass inside, like Alex did every time.”
Chelle admitted that there are moments when players must make decisions for themselves on the pitch when opponents successfully disrupt the team’s original tactical plan.
“This is the game project. Sometimes we play this kind of team, they know, they analyse you, so we have to find a solution.
“This is difficult because I’m not on the pitch and sometimes the players have to find a solution by themselves.”
The Super Eagles found a breakthrough after Madagascar had taken the lead, with debutant George Ilenikhena scoring his first international goal before Moses Usor completed the comeback with another goal on his debut.
