Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shed light on why Atletico Madrid forward Ademola Lookman struggled to make an impact in Nigeria's 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. The encounter, which took place on Friday, September 26, 2026, saw Lookman start but fail to influence the game significantly before being substituted for Tolu Arokodare with 21 minutes remaining.
Lookman was deployed in a role that required him to operate between the lines and help create openings for Nigeria. However, the team's strategy of playing directly through the middle against a compact Madagascar defense made it difficult for them to create clear opportunities. Chelle noted that his team needed to make greater use of the flanks before attempting to penetrate through the middle to break down the opponent's defense.
In his post-match press conference, Chelle explained that playing against a low-block opponent requires moving the ball from one flank to another. He cited an example of Alex finding a pass inside after moving the ball from the left to the right. The French coach emphasized the importance of adapting their strategy during matches, as opponents now study the Super Eagles closely and can anticipate their attacking patterns.
According to Chelle, such situations can be particularly challenging because the technical team cannot always dictate every decision once the players are on the pitch. He acknowledged that it is difficult for him to be on the pitch and sometimes the players have to find a solution by themselves. This, Chelle added, is part of the game project.
Lookman's subdued performance came as Nigeria had to recover from an early setback after Madagascar took the lead. The Super Eagles eventually turned the game around, with debutant George Ilenikhena scoring his first international goal before another debutant, Moses Usor, completed the comeback with the winning goal. This victory gave Nigeria a crucial result in their campaign.
The win is significant for Chelle as he continues to shape his attacking system and find the best ways to utilise the Super Eagles' forwards against different defensive setups. The coach's strategy and team selection will be crucial in their future matches as they aim to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles' victory over Madagascar has boosted their chances of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON. With this win, Nigeria has taken a significant step towards achieving their goal, and coach Chelle will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.
Key points
- Coach Eric Chelle attributed Ademola Lookman's struggles to the team's inability to effectively use the flanks against Madagascar's compact defense.
- The Super Eagles' victory over Madagascar was fueled by debutant goals from George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor.
- Coach Chelle emphasized the importance of adapting their strategy during matches to counter opponents' anticipation of their attacking patterns.
