MATCH ANALYSIS: NIGERIA VS BURUNDI

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS (AFCON) 2019 GROUP GAME 

Nigeria played its first game of the AFCON 2019 against debutants Burundi after missing out on the last two editions of the tournament . The Nigerian side, brimming with confidence and loaded with attacking talent were expected to take down Burundi comfortably. The Swallows were ably led by Stoke City’s Saido Berahino and this game was not as easy as excepted by fans of the Super Eagles.  It has since emerged that a bug ravaged the Nigerian squad few days to kickoff and there was also a medical concern regarding winger Samuel Kalu. Maybe, this explains why the Super Eagles struggled to break down a resolute Burundi side. Lets look at the game in detail.

FORMATIONS 

Nigeria lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Samuel Kalu left out as a precaution. Samuel Chukwueze started as the right winger. Jamilu was affected by the bug so Ola Aina played at left back while Abdullahi Shehu filled in at right back. John Obi Mikel was selected in the squad despite not taking part in the qualifiers and so Alex Iwobi was shunted to the left while Mikel played in the 10 role. Francis Uzoho, Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo, all fit were surprise omissions. Burundi lined up in a 4-4-2 system with 2 of their most known players, Gael Bigirimana once of Newcastle United in central midfield and ex England U21 International Saido Berahino upfront.

Starting Formation and Match Ratings (Whoscored.com)

LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE FULLBACKS

Big feature of the 4-2-3-1 formation is the use of offensive fullbacks. The double pivot (double 6’s) in central midfield provide defensive stability which allows both fullbacks to get up the field, provide width and overlap/underlap their wingers. This action also allows the wingers to be able to recieve in the half spaces, turn to dribble, pass or shoot.

In this game, Etebo and Ndidi were the pivots while Aina though more right footed started on the left probably due to the illness to Jamilu.  Shehu has been often been used at fullback with the national team however, he is more of a central midfield and this was evident in this game. In the first half especially, the fullbacks didnt provide consistent support to the wingers. Iwobi often came infield as expected, however Aina was inverted at fullback and so would not provide the natural width you would expect from a more left footed player. The talented Chukwueze on the right often had to go 1v2 against defenders and though his pace and dribbling got him through often, the support of the full back, Shehu would have freed him up a lot more.

Chukwueze attempted game high 9 dribbles and was successful 7 times (Whoscored.com)

Shehu’s heatmap compared with Aina’s (see below) shows he spent more time in his own half in the 41 minutes that he was on the pitch. His replacement Awaziem, a central defender by trade did venture forward a bit more as Nigeria searched for a goal. However, he could not provide the kind of output you would expect from a natural fullback.

Heat map of fullbacks Aina and Shehu (Whoscored.com)

LACK OF CREATIVITY IN CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELD

Burundi were always going to attempt to make this a tight affair for Nigeria and so both forwards, Berahino and Razak would drop deep onto Nigeria’s midfielders and didnt attempt to press the centre backs. For a familiar reference, think of Diego Simone’s Atletico Madrid 4-4-2-0 system. This meant it was congested in central areas for Nigeria and Mikel Obi was starved of the ball with only 36 touches on the ball before he was substituted.  He had just 1 key pass, no short on target, no successful dribbles and struggled to sparkle with the close attention and physicality of the midfielders of Burundi.

John Obi Mikel’s lack of influence on the game (Whoscored.com)

Paul Onuachu with his tall frame provides a significant aerial presence and won a high 13 of his 18 aerial battles (16 offensive aerial battles). You need good movement and lots of runs in behind and around a targetman to exploit his qualities and though Mikel has been a great servant for Nigeria, at 32 he would no longer be able to provide these qualities. The introduction of the quick Ahmed Musa and tactical shift of Iwobi to the number 10 position plus the increased pressure to find a winner finally built up a head of steam which Burundi could no longer resist.

Aerial presence of Paul Onuachu (whoscored.com)

CONCLUSION

Nigeria did just enough to get the result and would need to put in a better performance in further stages of the competition especially against better more experienced teams. They would need to address the lack of width from the fullbacks and play a complementary trio of attacking midfielders with the targetman Onuachu.