Head coach of the senior national team of Russia Valeri Karpin has praised the senior national team of Nigeria after yesterday’s 1-1 draw in a friendly game in Moscow, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
The coach saw his team took a first half lead when Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi diverted a cross into his own net. But in the second half he had to deal with his goalkeeper handing the ball to substitute Tolu Arokodare who toe poked home the equalizer for Nigeria.
Karpin’s team who are currently under a ban from international football by FIFA owing to the country’s invasion of Ukraine was asked about the strength of the Super Eagles as against his previous African opponents in Zambia and Kenya respectively.
He rated the Super Eagles and Camerooon as higher than the above mentioned teams, explaining that even FIFA in its ranking rates them higher.
“They are all very athletic, powerful, strong teams. Cameroon and Nigeria are significantly higher in level than Zambia and Kenya. Even the FIFA rating confirms this. They cannot be compared. Nigeria and Cameroon are more interesting”.
Speaking further he said the setup of the Nigerian team makes it easy for them to be beaten explaining how they created less, but frustrated his team’s attempt to score more goals despite creating more chances.
“They didn’t create threats for us, but we created moments. Melehin’s – after a free kick, Barinov’s – after coming out of defense. The goal we conceded can hardly be called created by Nigeria – there wasn’t even any pressing there”, he said at the post match conference.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
