Peseiro reveals reason behind the substitutions of Osimhen and Aribo in win vs Leone Stars
Published: June 18, 2023
Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has explained why Victor Osimhen and Joe Aribo were substituted in the second half of the national team's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone on Sunday evening.
Nigeria have qualified for next year's tournament in Ivory Coast thanks to their 3-2 win over the Leone Stars, but they did it the hard way as they surrendered a two-goal lead before super-sub Kelechi Iheanacho tapped in the winner in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time.
Osimhen lobbed the ball past Sierra Leone goalkeeper Ibrahim Sessay into the net to break the deadlock after eighteen minutes, before pouncing on a defence- splitting pass from Aribo to double the advantage in the 32nd minute.
Peserio took almost everyone by surprise by handing a start to Aribo, who didn't play much in the second half of last season after falling out of favour at Southampton.
The Portuguese football tactician took off the Super Eagles number 10 in the 71st minute, with Osimhen also departing the action in the 81st minute.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Peserio revealed that the changes were injury-enforced.
"I try to improve the team. Of course, Aribo it was due to injury and asked to go out. Osimhen also felt something in the leg," Peseiro told reporters.
"The others I tried to give more power, energy and quality to fight till the end because Sierra Leone in that moment didn't create many opportunities but (later) they attacked and pressurized us and they did very well".
With his brace against Sierra Leone, Osimhen is now the outright top scorer in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with seven goals, two more than Bayern Munich's Senegal striker Sadio Mane.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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