Afcon 2023| Nigerian vs Ivory Coast: Where the game will be won and lost

By Wale Mustapha

Nigeria will face off with Ivory Coast in a crucial 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group A encounter on Thursday.

The match will come as a must win for the Super Eagles, having settled for a disappointing 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea while the Ivorians saw off Guinea-Bissau in style in their opening games.

Jose Peseiro’s men must do all it takes to dislodge the tournament’s host at their back yard which means they will require an extra efforts, match plans and tactics to achieve that.

Nigeriafootball.ng dissects which department will be crucial for both team to achieve the needed result.

The likes of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho (if deemed fit to play) will need to put on their scoring boots for Nigeria get the needed result.

They created lots of changes against the Nzalang Nationale but could only account for one.

Osimhen must be decisive and accurate with any chances presented to him while they hope the Ivorians present the same jerky backline against The Djurtus.

It was evident that the Elephants initiated most of their attacks from central midfield and both goals they scored came from there.

Seko Fofana and Ibrahim Sanfare and captain Frank Kessie are the henchmen for the Ivorians with their sleeky passes that could prove dangerous for any team.

The Super Eagles’ midfielders required more concentration on Thursday by staying in shape all through the match by not giving their counterpart any room to operate.

Peseiro can stick with the same trio of Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf – if he’s fit from knock- and a super charger Alex Iwobi.

While Yusuf and Onyeka will be doing the dirty jobs of locking the ways of the opposition midfielders, Iwobi must up his game by delivering the key passes for the attackers to give the goals.

Jose Peseiro is required to make a few but needed adjustment in Super Eagles’ defense in order to get the needed result against the Ivorians.

It was evident from the match against Equatorial Guinea that Semi Ajayi could not withstand much physical threats from Guineans’ attackers as he lost about three contests with Nsue and Machin.

Much of that threats are expected against the Ivorians who are more physical which the West Brom centre back may not cope with.

Peseiro will need to deploy Calvin Bassey to partner William Troost-Ekong in the centre back to cater for those suspected worries and charged the full backs to be more firmer when going against the widemen.

For the goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali was not given must test to know his worth but he showed why he could be favored for the next game with his composure and coordinations.

In all, the Super Eagles have a chance to win the match against the Elephants of Ivory Coast with a well coordinated defense, a strong midfield that can provide back up for the defense and also support the attack while the strikers must come good. Failure to do all that mentioned will result to another disappointing outcome which either the team or Nigerians will not wish to happen.