Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended his tactical decisions, particularly his choice to deploy Ademola Lookman in an unconventional role, following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Lookman, who has been exceptional as a winger for Atalanta, was utilized in a central attacking midfield role behind Victor Osimhen in Chelle’s 4-4-2 formation. The change seemed to hinder his usual attacking prowess, as he struggled to assert himself in the game.
The winger had previously played a crucial role in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda, showcasing his strengths in his natural position. However, against Zimbabwe’s well-structured defense, Lookman found it difficult to make a significant impact, often facing challenges due to the physicality of the opposition and the limited space available in central areas.
Despite Victor Osimhen scoring a late goal to give Nigeria the lead, the Super Eagles were unable to hold on, as Zimbabwe capitalized on a defensive lapse during stoppage time to equalize. This frustrating result has increased the pressure on Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
Chelle’s tactical setup involved several players being fielded out of their natural positions. Right-back Ola Aina was deployed as a left-back, Lookman was played centrally as a supporting striker, and Samuel Chukwueze took on an advanced midfield role rather than his usual position as a winger.
As the reigning African Best Player, Lookman’s struggles were evident, as he was often overwhelmed by Zimbabwe’s physical approach and lacked the necessary space to maneuver effectively. This limited his influence on the game, raising questions about the tactical adjustment.
Speaking in a post-match press conference, Chelle defended his tactical decisions, explaining that his setup was intentional and aimed at exploiting spaces between the lines to break down the Zimbabwean defense.
“I said I want to play in a diamond because I like to find the player (Lookman) between the lines, between the player in the number 10 position,” Chelle stated while addressing the media.
Despite Lookman’s visible struggles in the new role, Chelle remained firm in his belief that the system was effective, particularly in the first half, when Nigeria created goal-scoring opportunities.
“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,” Chelle explained.
The coach also took time to praise the adaptability of Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel, who had to adjust to playing in different roles during the match. He acknowledged their contributions, despite being played out of their usual positions.
“For Ola Aina and Bright, Ola sometimes played on the left side. I think he played a very good game, and Bright too,” Chelle added, commending their performance under the circumstances.
However, with the Super Eagles failing to secure all three points, the pressure is mounting on the team as they navigate their World Cup qualifying journey. Chelle admitted that while his choices were being questioned due to the result, the outcome might have been different if Nigeria had won.
“Maybe now we say the choice was not good, but if we win, we say the choice was good,” he concluded, reinforcing his belief that results ultimately determine how tactical decisions are judged.
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