The Super Eagles left Nigerian fans wanting more after battling to a stalemate against Jordan at the Mardan Stadyumu in Antalya on Tuesday, Footynaija.com reports.
Nigeria headed into the game as favourites to get a win, especially coming off the back of that victory in their first game, but a generally mixed performance throughout the game left Eric Chelle’s men unable to impose themselves or enjoy any notable spell of dominance over their opponents.
After a match that provided plenty of talking points, here are four key takeaways from Footynaija.com.
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4. The Super Eagles still finding balance under Eric Chelle
Despite boasting a glaring superiority in terms of player quality, the Super Eagles failed to make it count against their lower ranked opponents. They struggled to get any real momentum going with too many misplaced passes and unforced errors disrupting their build up play for large spells of the game.
This allowed Jordan to stay competitive throughout the game and ultimately nick a draw as they continue to impress amid preparations for their maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Eric Chelle would have wanted more from his charges, while Jamal Sellami would feel he couldn’t have asked for much more from his side.
3. Raphael Onyedika’s disallowed goal
Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika was unfortunate to see his goal ruled out for an offside call against teammate Akor Adams, despite replays showing minimal interference from the Sevilla striker. It could be argued that if VAR had been employed in the game, a thorough review would’ve reversed the referee’s on-field decision.
2. Alex Iwobi’s late sending off
The dying embers of the game brought some drama with experienced Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi receiving a red card and leaving the Super Eagles to finish the game with a numerical disadvantage. Iwobi let his frustration get the better of him when he lashed out at an opposing player after being pulled back while driving the team forward on an attack. His reaction attracted a sending off which consequently mellowed Nigeria’s push for a late winner.
1. Emmanuel Fernandez announces himself with a goal on full debut
The Super Eagles’ latest defensive gem Emmanuel Fernandez rewarded Chelle’s decision to hand him a full debut with his first goal in the national team’s colours. Fernandez arrived with a reputation for making attacking contributions at Rangers and that crucial part of his game came to the fore once more in Antalya.
His partnership with Igoh Ogbu in central defense was also one of the bright spots for Eric Chelle’s team on the night. Their overall balance was encouraging and considering it was their first game together, their chemistry is expected to grow with more opportunities to pair in the future.
