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Super Eagles defeated Niger 2-0 in a friendly in Port Harcourt yesterday to hand coach Sunday Oliseh his first win in charge of Nigeria.
It was most certainly an improved showing than what the Eagles displayed in Tanzania at last Saturday. They played more like a team and battled for every ball.
Ahmed Musa gave Nigeria the lead after 11 minutes from the penalty spot after Antony Ujah was upended on his way to goal inside the box.
However, Nigeria had to wait till five minutes from the end of the game for Moses Simon to make the game safe when he fired home off a misplaced pass by a Niger defender.
There were several positives to take away from this Eagles outing – FC Taraba midfielder Usman Mohammed shone on his Eagles debut, skipper Ahmed Musa and later Moses Simon cruised on the left flank.
It was a contest as Niger gave everything including some rough-house tactics so as to get a result in this encounter.
Russia-based winger Amadou Mountari was also outstanding for the visitors as he kept Solomon Kwambe on his toes until the Warri Wolves ace was replaced late on.
Nigeria attacked from the onset, but their opponents held their own even if sometimes they dished out the rough stuff to the likes of Rabiu Ibrahim.
In the 28 minute, Sylvester Igbonu, who had a decent game, had his shot off Ahmed Musa’s pass blocked for a corner kick.
Ahmed Musa scored in the 33rd minute, but the Ghanaian referee David Laryea cancelled it for offside.
Three minutes to the interval, Ahmed Musa found Igbonu inside the box, but his first touch let him down.
Emmanuel Emenike had the ball in the net in the 75th minute but it was ruled offside.
Substitute Moses Simon also threatened when he came on, but his decision-making was often faulty.
And in the dying moments of the match, Sunshine Stars Prince Aggreh was not decisive when he found himself free inside the Niger box.
Eagles starting XI vs Niger – Carl Ikeme (Ikechuwu Ezenwa 80) – Solomon Kwambe (Troost-Ekong 80), Chima Akas, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo – Obiora Nwankwo, Usman Mohammed (Prince Aggreh 46), Rabiu Ibrahim, Sylvester Igbonu (Bature Yaro 61), Anthony Ujah (Emmanuel Emenike 54), Ahmed Musa (Moses Simon 63)
•Adapted from an MTNfootball.com report. Photo shows Eagles’ stand-in skipper Ahmed Musa.
