Former Nigeria international defender Celestine Babayaro has given his take on the Super Eagles 0-2 loss to Serbia in yesterday’s friendly game played at Barnet’s Hive stadium in London.
The loss has drawn criticism from Nigerians who have faulted the central defence partnership of William Troost-Ekong and Chidozie Awaziem for the goals conceded by the Nigerian team.
Babayaro agreed that the defence didn’t help young goalkeeper Francis Odinaka Uzoho, he particularly faulted Ekong and his partner at the right side of Eagles defence Ebuehi for the goals conceded.
” The defence were all over the place in dealing with crosses into the box, and that gave Aleksandar Mitrovic the license to cause havoc. I think Ekong should share the lion part of the blame”, Babayaro who was at the stadium during the game told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” You see his main job is keeping Mitrovic quiet, but I can’t remember him winning any duel against the big man unlike Awaziem who made two timely intervention to stop Mitrovic. Ekong and the fair guy on the right of defence ( Ebuehi) didn’t have the best of game.
” Both goals conceded by Nigeria was from crosses whipped in from the left where the duo of Ekong and Ebuehi are stationed to stop crosses. Going forward they have learnt a very valuable lesson in defending and movement “, Babayaro concluded.
Michael James
