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Retired Super Eagles goalkeeper Sylvanus Okpala argues in favour of Jose Peseiro's AFCON 2023 squad.
Former Super Eagles shot-stopper Sylvanus Okpala has thrown his support behind Jose Peseiro's squad choices for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting the crucial role of strategy in player selection.
Peseiro, the Portuguese tactician, recently whittled down his team to a 25-man squad from an initial 40-man list, sparking discussions within the Nigerian football community about their chances of clinching their fourth AFCON trophy.
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Strategic Selection: Okpala Backs Peseiro's Decisions
Speaking on Brila FM, Okpala weighed in on the controversy. “I don’t like to question a coach’s selection of players. It’s his discretion to pick whoever he wants to pick and leave out whoever he wants to,” he stated firmly. Okpala's stance is clear: a coach's selection should not be prematurely judged without understanding the tactical motivations.
He delved into the complexities of squad selection, emphasising the influence of the coach's tactical blueprint and preferred formations on the choice of players. “Every player has different characteristics, so he has to pick, based on his strategy, the formation he wants to play," Okpala elaborated.
“And you know, that’s how he has to pick the player. And that is why I don’t like to question the selection of coaches—who they have selected or who they have not selected. So I just leave it to the coach,” he added.
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Performance Over Prejudgments: The True Test Awaits
Okpala's approach is to withhold judgement until the team's performance on the field can be assessed. “I only wait for the day of the match to analyse what he is playing, whether it is going well or not. Based on strategy and the formation,” he explained. This perspective underscores a willingness to see how Peseiro's choices play out in real-time scenarios.
Nigeria's campaign at the tournament is set to kick off on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea, followed by a key encounter with Ivory Coast. Their group stage journey concludes with a game against Guinea Bissau on January 22.
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