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Despite the broader frustration with Jose Peseiro's approach, Osayi-Samuel has sparkled. What has the multi-faceted wide defender added to the three-time African champions?
Amid the spreading apathy with watching Jose Peseiro’s Nigeria, there are always curious stand-out situations: positive and negative.
There is an inclination to focus on the undesirable: that proclivity to see a glass half-empty glass rather than half-full.
Perhaps, this is understandable. There is a continued feeling that this Super Eagles iteration are less than the sum of their parts, evidenced by a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations outing and the inability to make last year’s World Cup.
Jose Peseiro’s mixed start
The situation needs the appropriate context: jettisoning Gernot Rohr in December 2021 before the tournament was ill-timed, and the subsequent confusion surrounding Peseiro’s appointment before the Portuguese’s eventual arrival in May 2022 was embarrassing.
It meant the Super Eagles went into the Ghana doubleheader with Augustine Eguavoen, whose limited approach was likely to take the Super Eagles so far.
The disappointment that such a talented group could not partake in last year’s global showpiece in Qatar was unmistakable, while the continued eyesore performances leave much to be desired.
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08:10 - 25.03.2023
SUPER EAGLES Peseiro's lack of conviction and composure is betraying an exciting crop
The Portuguese coach is achieving the impossible: he is somehow making an abundance of attacking talent not only ineffective, but tedious to watch
Peseiro’s approach was initially understandably reactive as he got to grips with the new role. A year into the job, the indifference that grew in the final months under Rohr is returning – if it has not already.
Fans were left scratching their heads after the squad reveal of Sunday’s AFCON qualifier with Sierra Leone and are resigned to witnessing another humdrum showing.
Despite the general indifference, maybe Bright Osayi-Samuel makes the team’s fixture with the Leone Stars worth watching.
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14:52 - 16.06.2023
Sierra Lone vs Nigeria: 5 Super Eagles players to watch out vs Leone Stars
The players you need to keep your eyes on as Super Eagles battle Sierra Leone this weekend in the AFCONQ2023.
Look on the Bright side
The frustration at Nigeria’s performances against Guinea-Bissau in March was recognisable.
There was annoyance at the disjointed showing, the team’s structure without possession, the concession of the game’s only goal and the nation’s top centre-forward frustratingly being caught offside numerous times.
That loss meant Osayi-Samuel’s showing at right-back fell under the radar, with observers looking to disparage the broader team’s inadequacies.
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18:57 - 27.03.2023
WHAT'S BUZZIN Reactions as Nigerians call out Chukwueze and Osimhen despite 0-1 win vs Guinea-Bissau in AFCON 2023 qualifier
Super Eagles of Nigeria managed to get their revenge against Guinea-Bissau, but Nigerians were far from pleased with a number of stars.
No player fashioned more than the wide defender’s three chances in the 1-0 loss in Abuja, completed more dribbles than the Fenerbahce man (five, jointly with Samuel Chukwueze) and won more duels (10, jointly with Guinea-Bissau’s Fali Cande) than the 25-year-old.
A closer look shows that the right-back attempted six dribbles to Chukwueze’s 11 and competed in 11 duels to Cande’s 15.
Three crosses completed was also a game-high — along with Moses Simon, who attempted six to Osayi-Samuel’s three — and he did not shy from attempting long-range passes.
The wide defender’s showing in Bissau was not statistically as accomplished as the 1-0 loss in Abuja, but it was arguably more representative of the Fenerbahce player’s skill set and the upside of having him in the team.
Even though he won the match-winning penalty after an aggressive ball carry, there was more to the full-back’s game with and without possession.
Without the ball, the defender played a part in the team’s counter-press in the first half-hour, even if the collective’s end product after regaining possession was deficient.
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His composure to avoid lunging at his opponent when he was in one-on-one situations helped to thwart the home side’s attacking transitions or to regain possession for the Super Eagles.
With the ball, the defender showed his potential usefulness in the build-up phase when he drifted infield into midfield to receive Semi Ajayi’s pass and then locate Chukwueze in a promising position out wide, completing one of four long-range passes from six attempts in Bissau.
Pulse Sports broke down that performance in March, and the wide defender’s presence for Sierra Leone excites anyone not focused entirely on outcomes.
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10:30 - 28.03.2023
SUPER EAGLES Osayi-Samuel offers hope despite Nigeria's underwhelming start to 2023
The Super Eagles right-back’s performances against Guinea-Bissau were encouraging in the humdrum doubleheader.
Osayi-Samuel’s 2022-23 campaign with Fenerbahce
What Osayi-Samuel has done in the last two games for the Super Eagles is not an anomaly, with a look at the underlying data from Fenerbahce’s Europa League campaign in 2022-23 presenting attention-grabbing numbers.
Among players who featured in three games or higher for the Turkish side, the wide defender ranked fourth for recoveries per 90 (5.85), third for interceptions per 90 (1.22) and third for tackles plus interceptions per 90.
With the ball, only Ferdi Kadioglu and Diego Rossi outdid the Nigerian’s 3.17 progressive carries per 90, but the Super Eagle outranked both for carries (3.90) into the final third. Only Rossi bettered Osayi-Samuel’s average carries into the penalty area.
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In three appearances for Nigeria, Osayi-Samuel has shown multiple elements to his game.
He is happy to hug the touchline to stretch play or willing to invert to add an extra body in midfield and facilitate the team’s build-up in that phase of play.
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The positive ball-carrying is admirable, while the composure in potentially threatening situations is doubly commendable.
While watching the Super Eagles may currently exasperate you. Watching Osayi-Samuel should not. Look on the Bright side.
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18:55 - 16.06.2023
Sierra Leone v Nigeria: 5 things the Super Eagles must do to secure AFCON qualification in Monrovia
The Super Eagles of Nigeria need a positive result against Sierra Leone to secure their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and here are five things they must do to make it happen.
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