Eagles Report; Match Review

 Nigeria v Tunisia

The Eagles took on Tunisia in the Jacques Leman Arena in Austria. Their second friendly of the international break after losing the first to Algeria.

Coach Gernat Rohr made 5 changes to the side that started against Algeria. The likes of Troost Ekong and Samuel Kalu had been tagged unavailable earlier in the morning as reported by the media officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye.

In their place Kenneth Omeruo and Moses Simon started.

The other 3 were Ebuehi, Onuachu and Frank Onyeka who dropped to the bench and were replaced by Akpoguma, Musa and Iheanacho.

Better press and movement from the Nigerians ensured that the Tunisians couldn't dictate the game as they wanted, forcing them to rely on long balls for most of the early minutes as they couldn't break the eagles.

Going forward it did look like the Nigerians would get the opener and it didn't take long. A throw in from Salisu, a little flick from Musa and a beautiful turn away from a defender by Iheanacho and a shot and we were a goal up.

Minutes later Musa was brought down in the box by the Tunisian goalie, Ben Mustapha. A penalty he'll later save expertly off the boots of Iheanacho.

Just before the halftime break the Tunisians had a chance to equalise when Hamza Rafia dragged the ball to the byline and laid the ball across to Dräger who found it easy converting from barely 8 yards out.

At halftime the scores were level, 1 - 1, Iheanacho and Dagger the scorers.

The second half looked rather balanced lacking the excitement of the first.

Debutants Cyriel Dessers and Chidera Ejuke came on and didn't have much of an impact on the game but then the flair and trickery of Ejuke was one to note as about the 86th minute he dribbled across the pitch skipping past about 5 players as he went.

Scenes that brought cheers and applause from fans worldwide and to the older players memories of a certain number 10 who always brought excitement when he played.

The game ended in a well deserved draw for both sides with many Nigerians feeling they could have gotten more from the encounter.

It's worthy to note that over the past 20 years, the Tunisians and Super Eagles have clashed about 8 times with 2 wins for Nigeria and the remaining games draws.

Player Ratings; 

Maduka Okoye (Gk); 6.0. Didn't have much to do asides having to knock the ball around. He did look good when called upon too, making a decent save almost to the end of the game. Nothing he could do about the goal we conceded.

Akpoguma (CB/RB); 6.5. looked shaky defensively as a full back but rather relaxed as a Centre back.

Omeruo (CB); 6.5

Balogun (CB); 7.0. 

Sanusi (LB); 6.5. Put in good crosses into the opposition box and also was decent defensively.

Semi Ajayi (DM); 6.0

Iwobi (CM) ; 7.0. Dictated our attacks and did was quick to return and put in defensive work.

Chukwueze (RM); 6.5

Iheanacho (CF); 6.5. scored the opener for Nigeria and could have gotten a second if he'd converted from the spot. 

Musa (CF); 7.5. Captain of the night and led he did. Assisted the opener and won the penalty which we couldn't convert. Overly a very nice performance as he was mobile across the front putting pressure on the defense line.

Subs; Dessers 6.0, Awaziem 6.0, Collins 6.0, Ejuke 6.4

A decent game overall and it'll be nice to see many of these players in the Afcon qualifiers come next month.

Soft...