Nigeria won because Mikel did not play - Swaziland Coach
Swaziland coach Harris Bulungu has revealed how coach Sunday Oliseh’s tactical changes cost his side a win against Super Eagles.
The Eagles defeated Swaziland 2 – 0 in Port-Harcourt during the second leg of the 2018 FIFA world cup qualifier after playing a goalless draw in the first leg played in Lombamba.
Bulungu revealed Oliseh’s decision to play Paul Onobi instead of John Mikel Obi disrupted Swaziland’s approach to the game.
The coach also revealed the other decisions to drop Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona were unforeseen and led to his own teams plans becoming futile.
He said: “We saw weaknesses in the Nigeria team in the first leg unfortunately, the coach made changes and there was nothing we could do about it. (Oliseh) was smart enough to make some chances (and this affected what) we hoped to capitalise.
“For example, the midfield was very slow in the first leg so we wanted to capitalise on that but he changed (his tactics) and put in (Paul Onobi instead of Mikel Obi in that position) and it affected our whole set up.
“(Onobi) was aggressive, he was quick…also the left and right backs were new players that we didn’t expect to play.”
Swazilan’s coach claimed Nigeria’s individual brilliance put the team through.
He said: “Nigeria were much better, but we tried to keep them out but their individual brilliance got them through.”
Nigeria will now be included in the group phase of the qualifiers which includes five groups of four teams each with the overall group winners qualifying for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
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