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In their Group A clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire head coach, Jean -Louis Gasset, expressed that Nigeria’s heavily defensive approach made it challenging for his team.
The Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, chose a 3-4-3 formation to stifle the hosts’ attacking threat, limiting the Elephants to only two scoring chances in the first half. However, they were clearly outplayed after the break.
Gasset acknowledged his team’s struggle with the physicality of the Nigerians in the game, noting, “It was a very physical match; Nigeria chose to play very low with a five-man defense to exploit counterattacks with their star striker. It was a tightly contested match.”
Commenting further on the game, Gasset added, “We didn’t give the impression of being able to compete physically.”
With the focus now shifting to their final group game against the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea next Monday, the hosts are regrouping for the upcoming challenge.