After a fabulous group stage display at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Nigeria were handed a surprise defeat by Tunisia in the battle of the Eagles in Garoua on Sunday. A 47th-minute strike by Youssef Msakni proved the difference at the full-time, as the Super Eagles had to bid their cup-winning dreams farewell.
But while defeat might seem sore for Nigeria, were there lessons left to be learnt?
The Tunisians studied Nigeria like a book and stuck to it
Like Nigeria defended against Egypt in their first group game at the AFCON, so did Tunisia defend against the Super Eagles in their Round of 16 encounter. Knowing Nigeria loved to build from the wing, Tunisia executed a plan of double marking every attack from these positions. They also focused on stealing possession in the midfield, such that, they prevented the three-time African champions from dominating as they against Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in Group D. For the Tunisians at full-time, it was a well-executed plan.
Maduka Okoye shouldn't be Nigeria's first-choice goalkeeper
Nigeria's run at the AFCON came to an end no thanks to a swerving shot from over 30 yards that Okoye found difficult to stop. While the 22-year-old might not be entirely blamed for conceding the goal, his confidence in the goal should have been reason enough to consider another keeper for this game. A history of being shaky while making saves in Nigeria's group stage games could lend credence to the notion that Okoye could have stopped Msakni's shot from going in if he put in more effort. The Super Eagles deserve a more confident first-choice goalkeeper should they thrive on the world stage.
Eguavoen shouldn't have banked on Samuel Chukwueze, again
For the third time in this competition, Nigeria's interim manager Austin Eguavoen showed trust in a Chukwueze who for the third time, was disappointing. With Moses Simon thoroughly man-marked for the most part of the first half, Chukwueze was expected to step up and take attention away from the left wing with his spectacular penetrative dribbles. However, he remained in the shadows as he did in the group stages. Choosing to start the first-half weak on one side of the flank, eventually taught Eguavoen a tough lesson that sometimes, a new approach is needed.
Super Eagles were totally wasteful with their chances
The Super Eagles made defending easy for Tunisia on the day as they fluffed most of their chances at goal. A total of thirteen attempts at goal saw only one head for the Tunisian goal. Should Nigeria have attempted to be more clinical with their chances, perhaps, the result could have been different.
Alex Iwobi's departure showed the Super Eagles can adapt
A red card brandished by referee Maguette N'Diaye to Iwobi in the 66th minute of the game seemed like something that would shake the Super Eagles up. However, the team seemed to adapt just fine. Dominating and pressing in the last minutes of the game.
Nigeria missed Osimhen
While Sadiq Umar did his little bid to worry the Tunisian defence, winning the title for the 'best Nigerian striker of the day', Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Olayinka and Kelechi Iheanacho were all caged well in the centre to reduce Nigeria's attack to nought. It was evident the presence of a more bullish striker: perhaps a Victor Osimhen currently at Napoli was needed for a game like this.