Finidi argued that the Super Eagles can’t play defensive football with the array of attacking talents at his disposal
By Kehinde Okeowo
Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George has hinted that his team will play attacking football during the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Despite the glut of attacking talents in the Nigerian team, former head coach, Jose Peseiro opted for a defensive approach at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
With the tactics, the Portuguese tactician guided the Super Eagles to the final where they eventually lost 2-1 to the hosts.
However, during his media tour, new Nigerian coach, Finidi said his team can’t continue to play the defensive football style that got them to the AFCON final with the array of quality strikers at his disposal.
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He, however, said his players must get the balance right when attacking and defending.
He said: “With the calibre of players that we have, we cannot play that defensive.
“In football you must get that balance, when you attack, when you defend, if the players are aware of what you’re doing and you attack properly and you know when to defend.
“We struggled going forward as well, so we just have to get that balance right.
“Maybe the formation has to change whereby we take away a player at the back and put him in the midfield.”
Finidi will lead the Super Eagles for the first time in a competitive game against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on June 7 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
He will then travel with the team and crew to Benin Republic three days later for another Word Cup qualifiers against The Cheetahs.