Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has explained why Alex Iwobi was substituted for Victor Boniface in the 72nd minute of the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against Benin’s Cheetahs on Thursday night during a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
Eguavoen confirmed that he had to tweak his formation twice in the second half as Nigeria desperately sought an equalizer after conceding in the sixteenth minute.
At the start of the second half, the Super Eagles reverted to a back four, with Ola Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi slotting in at right-back and left-back respectively, while Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey operated in central defence.
The tactical change by Eguavoen saw Kelechi Iheanacho and Gabriel Osho make way for Raphael Onyedika and Moses Simon.
With roughly twenty minutes remaining, Eguavoen made another tactical adjustment, replacing Iwobi with Boniface and shifting from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 formation in search of a breakthrough.
The substitutions proved to be a masterstroke as Victor Osimhen headed home a perfect delivery from super-sub Moses Simon in the 81st minute for the equalizer.
Eguavoen explained that Iwobi was taken off despite beginning to settle into the game because he needed an out-and out striker to partner with Osimhen up front.
“In that game, against the run of play we conceded a goal. We played with a back three, 3-4-3, and then we conceded that goal,” Eguavoen told reporters.
“Beginning of second half we reverted to a back four, that’s why we removed the centre-back, so we moved to a 4-3-3.
“Around 15 minutes before the end of the game, we had not scored. We had to remove Iwobi who came into the game but a bit late.
“He was doing his thing but we needed to revert to a 4-4-2, then we brought Boniface in to pair with Osimhen because we needed numbers there.
“In one game we played three different systems and because we had more numbers in the box, Moses Simon did his thing and to God be the glory we scored.”
With eleven points from five games, the Super Eagles are guaranteed to top Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, regardless of the outcome of Monday evening’s game against Rwanda.
