Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw with Brazil on Sunday in an international friendly played at the Singapore National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore.
For the second international game in a row, Glasgow Rangers’ Joe Aribo gave Nigeria the lead but the West Africans conceded early in the second half when Real Madrid’s Casemiro scored.
www.aclsports.com takes a look at how Super Eagles players fared in the prestige friendly.
Francis Uzoho – 7
One of Nigeria’s top performers in the game. He continued from where he stopped against Ukraine with a number of spectacular saves including a magnificent stop to a downward header in the second half. Such a shame he came off injured. Hopefully it isn’t as bad as first feared.
Chidozie Awaziem – 6.5
Solid showing by the Leganes man in spite of a shaky start. The 2019 AFCON revelation (at right back) didn’t look fazed coming up against the Brazilian wingers and spared his fellow defenders’ blushes sometimes with some last ditch defending.
Jamilu Collins – 4
Perhaps the least performing Eagle among the starters. Was given a torrid evening by Gabriel Jesus (playing as a right winger). The City man often went through him like hot knife through butter and Collins also provided very little going forward.
Semi Ajayi – 6
Steady display from the West Brom man. Growing more in confidence in his new found partnership with the team’s stand-in captain Troost-Ekong. Used his height and leggy advantage quite well and was at the right place to block a Brazilian effort with Okoye just picking up the ball thereafter.
William Troost-Ekong – 6
He was up for the battle against some of the best attacking talents and although it was too much for him at times, he did enough to lead the team to a stalemate.
Wilfred Ndidi – 6
Was at his combative best for the team and provided a fulcrum for Aribo to lean on in midfield. Not much activity in the opposing half though as Nigeria slipped into their half for most part of the second half.
Joe Aribo – 7
Another goal for the team in one of his typical late arrival into the box movement. He has shown he will always be a goalscoring outlet for the team. He also competed well in midfield against Casemiro and then Fabinho. Never got tired and was still spearheading a counter in the closing stages with Thiago Silva upending him. Didn’t quite react well to the rebound that led to Brazil’s goal though.
Alex Iwobi – 5.5
Never bad on the ball but drifted out of the game too often enough to wreak havoc on the Brazilians. There’s a sense that he is taking up more responsibility on the team’s creativity as well, but he must still prioritise doing the simple things well too.
Samuel Chukwueze – 6.5
A handful for the Brazilians. His pace and trickery especially when at full flight is always hard for any defender to handle. Was at his menacing best but still sometimes leaves that question mark on the decisiveness of his final ball.
Daddy Moses Simon – 5.5
Some flashes here and there but lacked a killer instinct. Got the assist for the goal but should really be doing more inside and around the penalty box. Didn’t do much of his trademark defensive assistance too.
Victor Osimhen – 6
Was a good presence upfront and drew out a save from Ederson earlier on and his header in the second half. He is continuing from the 2015 combination with Chukwueze and showed he is ready to play his part when well serviced.
Substitutes
Maduka Okoye – 5
Had nothing much to do besides picking up of routine crosses which he did fairly comfortably enough.
Paul Onuachu – 2.5
Replaced Osimhen with great expectation but couldn’t really seem to sort his feet on more than one occasion. Heavy touches and not knowing what to do also characterised his showing.
Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis – 3
Hardly made any meaningful contribution.
Ramon Azeez – N/A
Peter Olayinka – N/A
Abdullahi Shehu – Gamesmanship sub.
Gernot Rohr – 5
Nothing different from what we’ve seen before in my opinion and nothing suggestive that this team will reach beyond current height.
Beckoning on players to fall back, hesitation on substitutions once again leaving some players for too long on the pitch and quite erroneously removing Osimhen (specifically).
Anyways, he remains unbeaten against Brazil and Argentina in friendly matches.
