Nigeria Takes All Points as AFCON Qualifiers Begin

Abuja, NIGERIA: Nigeria took all three points with a 2-1 outcome against Sierra Leone. Nigeria was playing in an empty stadium, following a two-game punishment ordered by FIFA over crowd disturbances. It was Nigeria's first win in its last five games. Although Nigeria dominated large swaths of the game, there were shocking defensive frailties that could have been costly. Nevertheless, Nigeria overcame a nervy game on a torn field in Abuja to start the AFCON qualifiers with a long awaited win.

Moses Simon

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Although Nigeria dominated large swaths of the game, there were shocking defensive frailties that could have been costly. Nevertheless, Nigeria overcame a nervy game on a torn field in Abuja to start the AFCON qualifiers with a long awaited win.

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Victor Osimhen, absent in the last five games, was there in Abuja and his presence mattered. But even his presence, did not prevent Nigeria from going behind, again, as early as the 8th minute.  Sierra Leone had done absolutely zero until then. Bassey reacted slowly to a cross from the left  and as he dallied, a diving Sierra Leone attacker headed the ball passed Uzoho.  But it could have been worse! Only six minutes later, Bassey was left stranded again and a low shot went by Uzoho but fortunately came off his far post as Nigeria was relieved.

Then Nigeria struck back to be on level terms in the 16th minute.  Moses Simon laid off the ball to Iwobi inside the box. Alex calmly drove the ball wide off the goalie into the far corner of the net to restore sanity. Iwobi, who bossed the midfield, had saved Nigeria and Nigeria suddenly was awoke. But Sierra Leone did not respect Nigeria's pedigree. The Leone Stars clearly believed that they could get something out of this Nigerian visit. After all, the last time they were in Nigeria, they had come back from a 0-4 deficit to miraculously earn a 4-4 tie. Nevertheless, it was Nigeria that won this time. It came in the last minute of the half, Aina crossed magnificently to Simon who then laid the ball in the path of Victor Osimhen to strike at the back of the net. Moses Simon could have then crowned it all in the last second when he was presented a huge opportunity, seconds later, but as he dallied deep inside the box, the keeper quickly recovered to save.

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Iwobi, who bossed the midfield, had saved Nigeria and Nigeria suddenly was awoke. But Sierra Leone did not respect Nigeria's pedigree. The Leone Stars clearly believed that they could get something out of this Nigerian visit. 

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The game clearly exposed a frail defense that was poorly protected. Aribo played too far up and seemed oblivious of the task and centrally, both Ekong and Ajayi were a pair of bungling strangers. On the right, Aina was focused on attacking and doing little to shore up his flank.

The second half, especially a large swath of it beyond a nervy injury time, Nigeria dominated.  However, the inability to score assured a nervy finish. Chukwueze, is becoming frustrating in front of goal. Today, he had a world of opportunity in the 54th minute with the goalkeeper failing to come out quickly but Chukwueze shockingly put the ball wide off the posts in the 54th minute. But for all Nigeria's domination, this game could have been tied after Ajayi dithered with a harmless ball deep in his box (59th), allowing a lurking attacker to poke the ball towards goal and passed the keeper but wide. 

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However, the inability to score assured a nervy finish. Chukwueze, is becoming frustrating in front of goal. Today, he had a world of opportunity in the 54th minute with the goalkeeper failing to come out quickly but Chukwueze shockingly put the ball wide off the posts in the 54th minute.

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But those opportunities were before a shaky finish when the visitors earned multiple corner kicks in injury time. This, clearly, is a Nigerian team short on confidence and far more work on team psyche from Manager Peseiro's staff is needed. Defensively, the team's organization was poor and exposed but there is time to work on these weaknesses.

LINE -UP

Francis Uzoho (23)₂₄ +85 -- Ola Aina (2)₂₈ +72 (81^st Abdullahi Shehu (12)₄₁), William Troost-Ekong (cpt-5)₆₃* (81^st Kenneth Omeruo (22)₅₉), Semi Ajayi (6)_20, Calvin Bassey (18)₅ -- Joseph Aribo (10)₂₀ – Samuel Chukwueze (11)₂₄ (81^st Ademola Lookman (13)₃), Alex Iwobi (18)₅₈, Moses Simon (15)₅₂  -- Umar Sadiq (17)₆* (46^th Oghenekaro Etebo (8)₄₁+48) Victor Osimhen (9)₂₀ (90+1 Terem Moffi (19)₆).

RATINGS

Francis Uzoho --6.2 -- Francis cannot be blamed for the conceded goal but he did not have a spectacular day either. Thus, it was simply an average rating of 6.0.

Ola Aina -- 6.1 -- Aina was important attacking but defensively he was off. Several times, Manager Peseiro barked out his name on issues. Eventually, the frustrated Manager sent him off to the showers but not before Aina took a booking with him.

Troost Ekong *(cpt) -- 6.1 -- Skipper Ekong is having trying times working centrally with Ajayi. Today was not different as the pairing is increasingly suspect. We are unlikely to see the pairing in the next game as Ekong was stretchered off with injury late in this game. 

Samuel Ajayi -- 6.2 -- Ajayi can be frustrating, at times, with slow decision making in his half. Today, it could have been costly early in the second half as he dithered and allowed an opponent to poke the ball past him and his goalie.

Calvin Bassey -- 6.4 -- Bassey was horrendous in the opening half, being a tad slow on multiple occasions and one of those led to a headed goal early. However, he recovered in the second half to put up a relatively good performance but it certainly was a far cry from his recent games in the United States.

Joseph Aribo -- 6.3 -- Aribo was supposed to be the defensive midfielder but he was a far cry from doing the work and left his backline dangerously exposed in that opening half by gifting the opponent opportunities. 

Alex Iwobi -- 7.2 -- Alex is, recently, the best Nigerian player on the field. Today was not different. He bossed the middle early until he faded late. Importantly, it was his calmly taken goal that restored parity for Nigeria after the team surprisingly went behind early.

Samuel Chukwueze -- 6.4 -- This is a superbly gifted player who can be very frustrating. Today, it was more of the same. Chukwueze was anonymous for long stretches and then he missed a chance when it seemed much easier to score. His days as a starter must be numbered.

Moses Simon -- 7.0 -- Two assists on Nigeria's goals indicated his impact. However, this was far from what Simon is capable of displaying. His missed a gilded opportunity late in the opening half that surely would have made this his game.

Umar Sadiq -- 6.4 -- Umar was as busy as he is usually but a late opening half injury meant that he was sent early to the showers.

Victor Osimhen -- 7.0 -- Victor was as active as he is always with multiple attempts at goal. One such attempt eventually produced the winner after he put away Moses Simon's pass. He appeared to have sustained a late injury but was forced to stay on by the referee who refused to allow substitution for a full three minutes!

Oghenekaro Etebo -- 6.7 -- Etebo came in for injured Sadiq at the start of the second half and he suddenly stabilized Nigeria's defense, closing the gaps left by Aribo and prevented the Sierra Leoneans from destabilizing Nigeria's central defense repeatedly.

Kenneth Omeruo --- X

Ademola Lookman -- X

Abdullahi Shehu --- X

Terem Moffi -- X