Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came off the bench to net a late winner as Nigeria claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Libya in their Africa Cup of Nations matchday three qualifier.
Here are the major takeaways from the encounter.
Eguavoen’s tactical flexibility
Faced with an opponent 82 places below the Super Eagles on the FIFA ranking, Augustine Eguavoen decided to showcase his tactical flexibility.
The caretaker coach ditched the conservative formation he deployed against Benin and Rwanda last month and set the Eagles up in a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation.
While Eguavoen’s formation change could be lauded, his selection choices may come under scrutiny, though. Against a Libyan team that came with a defend-first strategy, starting two defensive midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank made the Super Eagles look lame going forward. Raphael Onyedika and Dele-Bashiru are better passers of the ball.
Ademola Lookman was robbed
Nigeria had the ball in the back of the net in the 83rd minute but the Malawian referee ruled it off for offside.
Lookman exchanged passes with Chukwueze and, on the return pass, the Atalanta man slotted the ball past the Libyan goalkeeper.
However, replays showed Lookman was not offside and the ref got the call wrong. In the absence of VAR, however, the error could not be corrected.
It would have been the game’s biggest talking point if Nigeria had not found a late winner.
Moses Simon is Nigeria’s sleekiest dribbler
After a number of below-par showing for club and country, Samuel Chukwueze was relegated to the substitute bench for Libya.
Moses Simon took Chukwueze’s spot in the starting lineup and showed the AC Milan winger how to play on the flanks.
Simon launched several of Nigeria’s attacks, he dribbled his markers with ease and delivered dangerous balls into the Libya box.
The FC Nantes man was Nigeria’s greatest threat in the encounter.
In the end, his excellent play was rewarded when he provided the assist for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to stab the winning goal home.
Alex Iwobi needs to add some end product to his game
For all his flair, fancy hair, and versatility on the pitch, Iwobi offers very little for the Super Eagles in the final third.
The Fulham star has only managed two assists in his last 32 games for Nigeria and had several chances to improve that tally against Libya.
However, he missed Nigeria’s best opportunities in either half and should have been hauled off the pitch earlier than when Raphael Onyedika replaced him in the 74th minute.
Ten minutes on the pitch and Dele-Bashiru showed Iwobi how a playmaker applies the finishing touches to a team move.
Boniface’s Super Eagles struggles continue
Victor Boniface is Nigeria’s second most valuable player after Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen.
However, Boniface at Bayer Leverkusen is a different beast compared to the timid lad that turns out for the Super Eagles. He looked slow, unimaginative, and uninspired in attack for Nigeria, making The Super Eagles miss Victor Osimhen against a laid-back Libyan defence that was there for the taking.
It is now nine games without a Super Eagles goal for Boniface, who may see his starting shirt taken by Taiwo Awoniyi.