Rohr says draw with Brazil is big booster to AFCON race
Admin l Tuesday, October 15, 2019
SINGAPORE – Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has landed his playing body a huge pat on the back for a gutsy performance in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Brazil in a friendly match in Singapore.
Five –time world champions Brazil to to dig deep into their arsenal before securing the equalizer as the Super Eagles had them on the back foot following Joseph Ayodele-Aribo’s 35th minute goal.
“This result is a good confidence booster for the team. We now have to prepare for the more competitive games next month.I am happy we stayed organized even when the Brazilians mounted a lot of pressure on us in the second half.
“The only negative thing is the injury to (Francis) Uzoho,” the Franco-German said minutes after the fina whistle at the Singapore National Stadium in Kallang.
Aribo’s goal, his second in as many matches in the colours of the Super Eagles, was an eye –catching finish as he received a pass from Moses Simon and then waltzed his way through a number of outstretched Brazilian legs to shoot past goalkeeper Ederson.
Brazil drew level three minutes after the restart but the three –time African champions held firm in the face of onslaught after onslaught, and could have won in the end had Thiago Silva not upended a marauding Aribo with the South Americans exposed.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, who horribly twisted his leg as he went for the ball from a corner kick, will be out for a minimum of six months, according to team doctor Ibrahim Gyaran.
Nigeria host Benin Republic on 14th November in the opening day of the 2021 AFCON qualifying campaign, before flying to Lesotho for a Day Two match on 19th November.
Eaglets lose 1-2 to Sao Paulo in friendly
Five –time world champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria lost 1-2 to Sao Paulo U17 side in a friendly game played at the Sorocaba Sports Complex in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil on Monday evening.
The Nigerian boys approached the game with confidence and were in control at the opening minutes of the game, with Olakunle Olusegun missing the target narrowly when he should have scored. It was Sao Paulo FC that drew the first blood with the first chance they created. A beautiful lop from the midfield was well –controlled by Danilo Silva with his left foot, beating Simon Omon in the process, and he ran into the box with a perfect finish in the 18th minute.
Thereafter, the Eaglets unleashed series of attacks in search of an equalizer. Unfortunately, Ibrahim Mohammed and Olusegun failed to convert the chances that were created from the midfield.
Peter Ukeme, who appeared not physicially fit was replaced after 35 minutes by Akinkunmi Amoo and the introduction of the stocky attacking midfieder presented a big threat to the Brazilians even as the first half ended with Nigeria trailing 1-0.
It was a different ball game entirely in the second half as the Eaglets came in full-blast search for the equaliser. Monsuru Abdulsalam’s left footed shot inside the box was parried by the Sao Paulo goalkeeper for a corner kick. The resultant corner kick was not well –connected, but there was a glimpse of hope that the equaliser was lurking around and it came few minutes later when Monsuru dribbled three defenders, surged into the box and was hacked down for a penalty kick.
Olusegun converted the opportunity to make it 1-1. The Eaglets continued piling pressure to break the defence of Sao Paulo for a second time but the goalkeeper came severally to the rescue of the Brazilians. As time ticked away, Sao Paulo’s attackers pounced on a loose ball from the midfield, launched a counter attack and a cross from the left side of the midfield was neatly jabbed into the net by Enrique Santos in the 85th minute.
