Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has pinpointed playing under pressure as a critical area his team must improve following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Russia in an international friendly at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday evening.
The match saw Nigeria fall behind in the 27th minute after centre-back Semi Ajayi inadvertently scored an own goal, handing the hosts the lead. However, substitute Tolu Arokodare salvaged a result for the Super Eagles, finding the back of the net in the 71st minute to restore parity.
In his post-match remarks, Chelle expressed concern over his team’s composure when faced with high-intensity pressing, citing a recurring issue in recent games.
“We will make changes, we will work on playing under pressure, because this problem has already arisen in the last three matches,” Chelle said. “We need to learn to cope with the opponent’s pressing – this was especially noticeable in the second half, when we were practically left without the ball. This is thanks to the Russian footballers.”
Chelle’s comments come after similar struggles were observed in Nigeria’s recent fixtures against Ghana and Jamaica, raising questions about the team’s ability to maintain control under sustained pressure from opponents.
The Super Eagles will now turn their focus to addressing these tactical concerns ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures.
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