Iwobi reflects on Peseiro’s ‘defensive approach’ against Ivory Coast in AFCON 2023 final

Fulham FC midfielder Alexander Iwobi has reflected on the ‘defensive approach’ deployed by the Super Eagles during the last AFCON 2023 final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

The player who recalled the tactics deployed by Jose Peseiro during an interview with Club’s official website said that the coach got a bit ‘too defensive during the game.

Iwobi, who blamed Peseiro for the team’s loss in the AFCON final, said that when they got to the final, the Eagles thought they could beat Ivory Coast again with defensive tactics, which provided the needed result in the group stage, but it was not to be in the final.

“We thought it was a lucky escape. [After that] the manager’s gone a bit defensive, put five at the back, and the next game’s against the host nation, who just won,” Iwobi told Fulham FC.

“Confidence is high, thinking, ‘yeah this formation sticks, it’ll work.’ Then we win our next game, go through to the next round and everyone’s on high thinking, ‘ok there’s a chance we can do something here.

“We got to the final; though we could beat the host nation again, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”