The senior national team of Nigeria drew 2-2 against the B team of Algeria in one of the two friendly games the team will play during the ongoing international break. The next game will be against the main team of Algeria on Tuesday.
Algeria were using the game to prepare their B team solely made up of players from the local league for the upcoming CHAN championship, which they will host and for Nigeria it’s a warm up game ahead of the big test against the main team.
The coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro used the game to hand a chance to players who haven’t played under him or even for the team with the quartet of goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, Ebube Duru, Raphael Onyedika and Savior Godwin making their international bow for Nigeria.
OwnGoalNigeria.com picks the five players who weren’t at their expected level during the game.
Maduka Okoye – He didn’t cover himself in glory with the error that led to the first goal scored Algeria. Largely untested for the 45 minutes that he was on the pitch. He struggled to play from the back and showed no composure with the ball at his feet.
Taiwo Awoniyi – Didn’t look at home playing with an unfamiliar duo in Ademola Lookman and Chidera Ejuke. He was hardly involved for the 45 minutes that he was on the pitch as he didn’t get up to ten touches.
Chidera Ejuke – Another game to forget for the Hertha Berlin man in the colours of Nigeria. He lost possession easily and didn’t contribute in attack even when Nigeria dominated the early exchanges.
Ebube Duru – He can be excused on the grounds that it was his debut game. However in a game where he should be more adventurous. He was caught more times in his half despite the fact that he had zero pressure on him.
William Troost Ekong – Didn’t look the part in possession and had lots of it. It exposed his poor ball distribution. Something which became clearer when he was subbed off.
