Augustine Eguavoen has said that the instruction he gave to Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi before the Super Eagles game against Tunisia on Sunday did not work as planned.
Nigeria lost the round of sixteen clash 1-0 to the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
With high expectations going into the game, the Super Eagles were beaten by Tunisia, bringing to an end their fine run in Cameroon.
Eguavoen said he instructed the two front players (Kelechi Iheanacho and Awoniyi) to exploit the gap whenever Samuel Chukwueze or Moses Simon drops behind.
Tunisia deployed two players to double-team on Chukwueze and Simon and those tactics paid off.
Eguavoen said his instruction to Iheanacho and Awoniyi to exploit the gaps in the Tunisia defence when the wingers are not active did not work.
“Moses Simon, Chukwueze, the strength of Nigerian football has always been on the side but the only thing we were not doing right was for us to move the ball quicker when is 1v1,” Eguavoen said during his post-match press conference.
“Don’t always look for the wingers that’s why we instructed the two front players that when Chukwueze or Simon drops behind Awoniyi or Iheanacho or whoever comes must exploit that gap.
“It wasn’t really happening.”
