The Super Eagles were denied the chance of going top on the standings in Group G of the 2017 AFCON Qualifiers after they were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Friday.
Oghenekaro Etebo got the only goal for Nigeria on the hour-mark after a goal mouth scramble that finally broke the resilience of the Egyptians who looked very much contented with a draw.
But what was looking like a fair result was overturned when Roma’s Mohammed Salah got the equaliser.
The Eagles started quite brightly with Ahmed Musa launching the first attack from the right flank but his cross was intercepted by the Egyptians.
The Eagles continued to press for an early goal but could not break the resilient Egyptians who gradually settled into the game and began to make their own incursions.
Roma’s Mohamed Salah was the first major threat against the Eagles with his tricky moves getting the better of debutant Stanley Amuzie.
The Egyptians came very close to getting a shock lead when Salah made a wonderful effort before laying the ball off to El-Said who passed to an unmarked Koka. But Koka saw his strike hit the Nigerian keeper Carl Ikeme who forced the ball for a corner.
At the other end, Ighalo gave an instant reply just two minutes later when he was allowed to cut inside and strike towards goal, but El-Shennawi thwarted the Watford man.
Nigeria had a free-kick moments later but Moses Simon rocketed the ball into the high heavens. Etebo also took a free-kick but did not make the most of the chance.
The Egyptians were able to curtail Nigeria well in the first half but in the dying stages, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ighalo had good chances but could not bury the ball in the net.
In the second half, the Eagles started brightly also but had to wait till the 60th minute before they finally tucked the ball in through Etebo.
The trio of Victor Moses, Umar Aminu and Alex Iwobi all came in the second half and tried to make their presence count.
Moses came the closest to doubling Eagles’ lead but was denied by a goal line clearance.
The hearts of the thousands of fans present at the Kaduna stadium got broken when Salah in the first minute of extra time beat the offside trap to tuck in the equaliser that now puts them in pole position for qualification.
The second half comes up in four days’ time in Alexandria.
Premiumtimes reportage.
Choi so will they still get the 5k USD promised them by Ifeanyi Uba?Lol
You called them Pharaohs of Egypt and expect ordinary super chickens of Nigeria to conquer the legendary Pharaoh? Issokay.
ReplyDeleteI thought they said Oliseh was their problem. When they will not focus on training but keep looking for who is captain and who is older and who is insulted. Making mouth up and down.
DeleteLmfao. I talk am. They keep rambling before every game yet they never deliver. Can't even remember the last time I watched them play.
DeleteAll mouth, no action.
What do you expect from super chickens
ReplyDeleteSupport super eagles n get heart attack..... Stella get wetin if I hear shinshin them no go see even the money they're supposed to be paid as match allowance them no go see all.......kikikikikikiki
ReplyDeleteNigeria came with squad but,Good night!
ReplyDeleteKo kan aiye
ReplyDeleteKo kan aiye
ReplyDeleteOnce Super Eagles,Now crawling chickens. Should be slaughtered for the Easter. Waste of time,money ,cheering voices and resources.
ReplyDeleteThe Egyptians play really well and are very organised. Only thing Is they never perform well outside African games. Their former goal keeper was something else. He was called The Wall for a reason. Thanks to him they won Afcon 3 times in a row
ReplyDeleteIt's alright
ReplyDeleteThat was why I refuse to waste my time going to watch the match at the stadium. If at all I wasted my time going to that busy location, with the hold up and hot weather. I would have insulted the hell out of them. Thank God I did not go there.
ReplyDeleteShameful
ReplyDeleteThank God Almighty I did not bother to watch when telemundo and zeeworld never die
ReplyDelete