Eagles struggle past Namibia
On June 4, 2012 · In Sports
BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE, Calabar
While Nigeria’s Eagles engaged Namibia’s warriors in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Calabar yesterday, the news of the plane crash in Lagos spread at the stadium and attention of the fans who heard the sad news was divided until the referee blew the final whistle.
And in the post match press conference Keshi prayed for the souls of the reposed and said that “we would like to dedicate this victory to the victims of the crash and we pray that God will grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the loss. It’s a sad day in Nigeria and we sympathize with the bereaved.”
His team earned a hard 1-0 victory courtesy of Ike Uche’s 81st minute strike that the fans celebrated almost to high heavens. It was a difficult match for Nigeria who now top their group after Kenya and Malawi played scoreless draw on Saturday.
Super Eagles and Namibia in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier
”Nigeria have bigger names in football but they will feel us on the field,” Namibia’s coach Benhard Kaanjuka told Vanguard before the match.
The Eagles really felt their defensive play as they had about nine players behind the ball most times but were also quick in spreading out when in possession of the ball. Rarely did they harass in Eagles’ goal area. The onus fell on Eagles to prove they were a better side.
They needed goals to do that. But they missed many chances, Ike Uche being the key man in the “missing game.” He would have ended up the villain if he had not scored. But he did and for that reason was man of the match, his seeming loss of confidence and clumsy play notwithstanding.
He hit the post in the first half but blew chance after chance even once when he dribbled a defender over his head but played the shot into the sky. His misses appeared to have affected his confidence and what followed was a barrage of misses.
Victor Moses was not in the game and John Utaka was equally not doing better. They were left too long in the pitch. They all had to be changed for Ahmed Musa and Kalu Uche, the Enyimba striker. Before then tired Obiora Nwankwo had been replaced by Henry Uche, another Enyimba player.
”The building process is on. We are learning with time and every match,” Keshi said as he walked out of the pitch. He admitted that it was a difficult match but hoped that Eagles would continue to improve. Eagles must leave for the match in Malawi thinking abouit how to improve on their attacking runs and the midfield where there wasn’t much creativity.
Gabriel Ruben did well defensively in the midfield but his effort was not complemented by an injured Obiorah, Moses and Utaka. Ejike Uzoenyi enjoyed some dribbling runs but should learn to release ball faster. Set pieces including corner kicks were another area Eagles were found wanting.
”We would do a lot to work on these areas,” Keshi said, adding ‘ the important thing were the three points and we had them.”
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
Nigeria 1 Namibia 0
Benin 1 Mali 0
Niger 0 Gabon 0
Angola 1 Uganda 1
Guinea 1 Zimbabwe 1
S/Africa 1 Ethiopia 1
Tunisia 3 Eq Guinea 1
S/Leone 2-1 Cape Verde
Ivory Coast 2-0 Tanzania
Morocco 1-1The Gambia
Ghana 7-0 Lesotho
Zambia 0-2 Sudan
Burkina Faso 0-0 Congo
Kenya 0-0 Malawi
Egypt 2-0 Mozambique
Algeria 4-0 Rwanda
Cameroon 1-0 DR Congo
Senegal 3-1 Liberia
Togo 1 -1 Libya
Friendly
S/Africa 1 Falcons 1
