Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen has shed light on his decision to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation during Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Eguavoen, who had previously used a 3-4-3 setup during the AFCON earlier this year and in his initial games against Libya and Benin, reverted to a more traditional 4-2-3-1 formation for encounter.
The tactical reshuffle meant that Semi Ajayi, a regular starter, dropped to the bench for the first time since Nigeria's January defeat to Guinea in a pre-AFCON friendly.
From 3-4-3 to 4-2-3-1: Super Eagles tactical switch explained
Explaining his decision during the post-match press conference, Eguavoen highlighted the challenges of maintaining control in the middle of the park with the 3-4-3 system.
“Last two games, when we played a back three and then four across the midfield, we always lost numbers in the middle of the field because one midfielder goes high up, and you have only Ndidi, Onyedika, or Onyeka there,” Eguavoen explained to reporters in Uyo.
The Super Eagles’ boss emphasized how the 4-2-3-1 formation provided more balance, particularly in the midfield, giving his side better control of the game.
“So there was a lot of space behind us. With the back four, we had more numbers in the midfield, so we could possess the ball. That was the game plan,” Eguavoen added.
The switch proved effective, as Libya managed just two off-target attempts throughout the match, while Nigeria dominated possession.
As the return leg against Libya looms, it remains to be seen whether Eguavoen will stick to this tactical approach or revert to his earlier 3-4-3 formation.
