AFCON 2025
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has explained his decision to play Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze out of their natural positions in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles took the lead through Victor Osimhen’s 74th-minute goal but allowed Zimbabwe to equalize in stoppage time.
Chelle opted for a 4-4-2 system, deploying Aina, typically a right-back, at left-back, while forward Lookman played in a central role, and Chukwueze was used in midfield.
Defending his tactics, Chelle said:
“I said I want to play in diamond because I like to find the player [Lookman] between the lines, between the player in the number 10 position.”
“If you see the first half, we could have scored a goal, so this is a very good system.”
“Chukwueze played inside, but if you see in the first half, sometimes he was on the side.”
“For Ola Aina and Bright, Ola sometimes played on the left side. I think he played a very good game, and Bright too.”
“It was difficult at the end, in the last minute, so we had a draw.”
