Super
Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, lost his first match as Nigeria coach
after the Pharaohs of Egypt snatched a late goal to beat Eagles 3-2 in a
friendly match played at El Nasri Stadium in Dubai on Thursday.
In his first five games,
Keshi, won two matches against Zambia and Liberia and drew with Angola,
Botswana and Rwanda. The Rwanda game was a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier
played in Kigali in February.
Like in the match
against Liberia, the coach kept faith in the home-based players he has
been working with as goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, Azubike Egwueke, Godfrey
Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Papa Idris, Reuben Gabriel, Henry Uche, Ejike
Uzoenyi, Obina Nwanchuku, Sunday Mba and Kalu Uche started against the
Pharaohs.
Sunday Mba, who scored
both goals against Liberia in Monrovia, put Nigeria ahead in the 15th
minute to the delight of a handful Nigerians at the stadium. But Ahmed
Temsah cancelled the advantage in the 25th minute with a shot that took a
deflection. The north Africans went ahead to take the lead when veteran
Mohammed Aboutrika scored from the spot in the 32nd minute. Kalu Uche
levelled score in the 40th minute, converting with a back heel from
Ejike Uzoenyi pass.
At the resumption of the
second half, Aboutrika would have put the Pharaohs 3-2 up but his shot
went over the target as Nigeria continued the search for more goals.
Uche and Mba, who later made way for Izu Azuka late in the game,
threatened the opponents’ area as the game went on but it was the
Egyptians who got the third goal in injury time through Ahmed Hassan
Mekky.
It was a match the
home-based players gave their all and they actually deserved a result
but for the superior exposure of their opponents who mounted a late
challenge when it seemed both sides were content with a draw.
Former U-20 coach Tunde Disu said the result was a sign of brighter future for the Eagles.
No comments:
Post a Comment