Football Nigeria -- Eagles Etcetera

Bouake, IVORY COAST -- Stanley Nwabali, invited at the last moment to rescue Nigeria at the AFCON, after Nigerian managers repeatedly turned their attention to Europe, became the man to lift Nigeria into an African Cup of Nations championship game following a decade of despair. Nwabali, put up a spectacular display, during the penalty kick shoot out, after a match where he displayed impeccable sweeping from the back to pushback South Africa's attempt at an upset. The South Africans, filled with players from Mamelodi Sundowns, dominated the ball for long periods but it ended in heart break city. A few days ago, their goalkeeper had saved penalty-kicks to push South Africa through and in the game against Nigeria, they went into a game-delay strategy as extra time dwindled and they felt confident. After all, their goalkeeper will prove spectacular in another shootout. Instead, it was goalkeeper Nwabali who stole the show. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Stanley Nwabali, invited at th

Alex: The maestro that commanded the middle today...... Abidjan, I-COAST…..Ademola Lookman’s shot, off a Moses Simon cross, decided the game against Angola 1-0 as Nigeria romped into the semi final of the AFCON. Nigeria was last at this stage more than a decade ago. Today, there was little doubt that Nigeria deserved the win as they created better chances than the Angolans who gave their all searching for their own historical moment. Angola was the livelier team earlier on. In fact, they could have gone ahead after just 8 minutes, but Nwabali turned a close Angolan opportunity into the corner. Nwabali clearly is making his mark in this tournament, he has given Nigeria the confidence that it lacked in the last couple of years. His command of the goal area has been top notch and today he produced his trademark long throw that led to what could have been Nigeria’s second goal. The long throw from his goal area found Osimhen who was fouled. The ensuing free kick saw Osimhen head into the

Abidjan -- Nigeria moved into the African Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter finals with Ademola Lookman scoring a brace in a 2 - 0 win over Cameroon. Nigeria played a clinical game and remained focused allowing Cameroon to dominate possession but offered the losers few real opportunities. Desperate to measure up, Cameroon made Osimhen suffer several fouls and the increasing desperation led to a caution for Nkoulou who fouled goalie Nwabali in midair. Nwabali, unable to continue, was replaced by goalie Uzoho. _____________________________________________________ Desperate to measure up, Cameroon made Osimhen suffer several fouls and the increasing desperation led to a caution for Nkoulou who fouled goalie Nwabali in midair. Nwabali, unable to continue, was replaced by goalie Uzoho. ____________________________________________________ The game started with Nigeria indicating its intention. After only eight minutes, Nigeria appeared to go ahead as Ajayi scored during a goalmouth scr

Abidjan -- Nigeria pipped Guinea Bissau 1-0 in Abidjan at the Houmphouet Boigny Stadium to progress to the second round of the AFCON before an estimated 20,000 spectators. With Ivory Coast going down 0-4 simultaneously to Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria was forced to finish second in the group because of a poorer goal difference compared to the Equatoguineans. Nigeria was clearly the better team using their new structure of 5-3-2 in defense and 3-5-2 in attack. In truth, the losers, who finished without a point in the group, were thoroughly outclassed. The difference in margin could be down to pitiful officiating by referee Ms. Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) intent on balancing the game with poor officiating. Although, to be clear the referee with assistance of VAR officials ended up making the correct calls after Nigeria had put the ball in the net two other times and fortuitously did not call for a VAR check after the losers had a goal ruled off. Replays indicated the goal by Guinea Bissau sh

 Abidjan -- Embattled Manager Jose Peseiro led the Super Eagles to a disciplined display with a base 5-4-1 formation, rarely seen under the ultra-attacking Manager. He ditched the two-forward set that he had fallen in love with and instead took an ultra defensive approach in beating Ivory Coast 1-0 in a critical AFCON group game in Abidjan to keep Nigeria's knockout stage qualification hopes alive. __________________________________________________________ Embattled Manager Jose Peseiro led the Super Eagles to a disciplined display with a base 5-4-1 formation rarely seen under the ultra-attacking Manager. He ditched the two-forward set that he had fallen in love with and instead took an ultra defensive approach in beating Ivory Coast 1-0 ...... __________________________________________________________ Nigeria was ultra disciplined and maintained their lines religiously by relying on quick counters to rattle the host team. But it was Nigeria that had the first half-chance but Osimh

Midfield Engine Alhassan Yusuf.... dominant and 110% effort player Abidjan....Nigeria began its AFCON play with yet another tie and has now won just one game in its last six appearances. Nigeria will likely make it into the knockout stages of this competition on the basis that three teams can qualify from a group of four teams. However, this team is tottering on a disaster and disappointment. Today, they battled to a 1-1 against a less talented Equatorial Guinea team that Nigeria should have put away if only Nigeria converted a catalog of opportunities. The opportunities were not mere half chances. Instead, there were two of them where the goalkeeper was at the mercy of a Nigerian attacker. The first came after 54 minutes when Sanusi found himself wide open in front of goal only to miss badly.  and the rebound was hit to the skies by Lookman. Then Osimhen was sent through with no defender in sight but the striker saw his attempted wide right beyond the goalkeeper in the 75th minute. ++