Finidi George believes the hard work in Abidjan is only half the job done, and if you are wondering how the Pride of Rivers plan to finish the task, the head coach has already laid out the blueprint.
Taking a 1-1 draw away from the Laurent Pokou Stadium against FC San Pedro is no small feat in continental football.
After Issouf Dosso put the Ivorian side ahead early in the second half, Finidi turned to his bench, introducing Iyowuna Douglas for Wasiu Falolu.
Just six minutes later, Douglas delivered a clinical finish to drag the Garden City side level and secure a massive away goal. Reflecting on the tactical battle, Finidi broke down how the first leg unfolded:
“I said it yesterday that we want to have a good game, not losing here. It could be 0-0, it could be 1-1, and the game ended 1-1. So I think we not losing here; it’s not a bad result. It’s good.”
“If you look at the game, the first half, there was nothing created by both teams. The game was a bit balanced, but in the second half, I think after they scored, we tried to get some new energy in the team. I think after we got the equaliser, we went too deep at the end. But I think Nigeria is going to be a different ball game. We’re going to approach the game differently.”
The Ivorian hosts certainly tested the resolve of the NPFL heavyweights with their pace and high intensity. However, having decoded their setup, the tactician is confident that the dynamic shifts completely once the return fixture kicks off on Nigerian soil next week:
“We tried to see what they were doing, their capacity. Like I said, the game was balanced. But we knew it’s a very good team; it’s a young team, full of energy. So we knew it was going to be a difficult game.
But if we can have a good result, not losing here, I think my team is going to play differently in Nigeria. So it’s going to be a 60-40 for us in Nigeria.”
With a vital away goal in the bag and clear tactical lessons learned, the Nigerian outfit now holds the upper hand as they prepare to welcome San Pedro to Uyo to seal qualification.
