Video: Tanzania coach vows to “neutralise” Osimhen
Abdullateef Fowewe
Tanzania’s head coach, Miguel Gamondi has laid out a bold tactical blueprint to shut down Nigeria’s star striker Victor Osimhen ahead of their high-stakes AFCON match on Tuesday.
Video: Tanzania coach vows to “neutralise” Osimhen
With the Super Eagles relying heavily on Osimhen’s prowess, Gamondi emphasised a meticulous scouting operation and defensive strategy to curb both the player’s individual threat and Nigeria’s fluid attacking play.
In a pre-match press conference, Gamondi declared, “We will neutralise Victor Osimhen.”
He elaborated on the preparation, stating, “The analysis is to scout him, watching the games. But as you say, everybody knows which quality he has. We have a for sure tactical plan to try and neutralize the individual and collective importance of Osimhen.”
Gamondi highlighted Nigeria’s dynamic movement, warning, “They’re moving very well with the ball. They might use a lot of their vertical. And we need to be very aware of how we’re positioned in the pitch.”
Dismissing rigid marking schemes, he stressed adaptability, “I’m not the type coach who’s thinking only this, it’s important—zonal or man marking, zones. But the quality at end of day, quality of player define situation.”
The Argentine tactician also pointed beyond Osimhen, urging vigilance against secondary threats: “Osimhen, he’s a reference in attack of Nigeria. But we need take care of him but more care for the people who come in in second line as well.”
He added a zero-tolerance mindset: “We don’t have right to mistake. Mistake is with and without ball.”
