Eagles lose gallantly to Egypt
Uzoenyi - Another Man-of-the-Match display
Yakubu hails Home-based Eagles
Nigeria shone Thursday only to go down 3-2 to seven-time African champions
Egypt in a thrilling friendly in Dubai.
The Eagles, made up players from the Nigeria Premier League, held their own and played a positive game against their more experienced opponents inside the El Nasri Stadium in Dubai.
The Eagles, made up players from the Nigeria Premier League, held their own and played a positive game against their more experienced opponents inside the El Nasri Stadium in Dubai.
It was coach Stephen Keshi's first loss since he took charge of the Eagles in November.
They took the lead in the 13th minute through Sunday Mba after he was set up by Uche Kalu.
Egypt restored parity on 25 minutes when midfielder Ahmed Temsah cashed in on a defensive mix-up between centre halves Azubuike Egwuekwe and Papa Idris.
The Pharaohs then went in front on 33 minutes courtesy of a penalty kick converted by Mohamed Aboutrika after full back Juwon Oshaniwa had upended an Egyptian player inside the goal area.
Nigeria were back on level terms on 42 minutes through a cheeky back-heeled effort by the impressive Enyimba striker Uche Kalu from an Ejike Uzoenyi corner.
It was a just reward for the Eagles as they piled on pressure after they went behind for the first time in the game.
Just when it seemed there would be no more goals in this game, Egypt grabbed the winner in stoppage time through Ahmed Hassan Mekki after an error in the Eagles defence.
Egypt paraded their top stars like Aboutrika, Hossam Ghaly, Hossam Ashour with Sunderland ace Ahmed Elmohamady starting from the bench after his English club released him to join his country’s team.
They made as many as six changes from after the interval.
Eagles starting XI
Chigozie Agbim – Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Papa Idris, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Ejike Uzoenyi – Sunday Mba, Uche Kalu, Obinna Nwachukwu
Subs: Ogonna Uzochukwu, Uche Ossai, Izu Azuka, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Barnabas Imenger, Sope Ahmed, Daniel Akpeyi
Coach: Stephen Keshi
Egypt
Abdul-Wahed Al Sayed – Ahmed Saied, Basem Ali (Ahmed Elmohamady 46), Mahmoud Fattallah - Ahmed Temsah, Hossam Ashour (Ashour Al-Taqui 84), Hossam Ghaly, Mohamed Aboutrika (Emad Meteb 75), Mohamed Abdul-Shafi – Ahmed Hassan Mekki, Ahmed Abdul-Zaher
Coach: Bob Bradley
They took the lead in the 13th minute through Sunday Mba after he was set up by Uche Kalu.
Egypt restored parity on 25 minutes when midfielder Ahmed Temsah cashed in on a defensive mix-up between centre halves Azubuike Egwuekwe and Papa Idris.
The Pharaohs then went in front on 33 minutes courtesy of a penalty kick converted by Mohamed Aboutrika after full back Juwon Oshaniwa had upended an Egyptian player inside the goal area.
Nigeria were back on level terms on 42 minutes through a cheeky back-heeled effort by the impressive Enyimba striker Uche Kalu from an Ejike Uzoenyi corner.
It was a just reward for the Eagles as they piled on pressure after they went behind for the first time in the game.
Just when it seemed there would be no more goals in this game, Egypt grabbed the winner in stoppage time through Ahmed Hassan Mekki after an error in the Eagles defence.
Egypt paraded their top stars like Aboutrika, Hossam Ghaly, Hossam Ashour with Sunderland ace Ahmed Elmohamady starting from the bench after his English club released him to join his country’s team.
They made as many as six changes from after the interval.
Eagles starting XI
Chigozie Agbim – Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Papa Idris, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Ejike Uzoenyi – Sunday Mba, Uche Kalu, Obinna Nwachukwu
Subs: Ogonna Uzochukwu, Uche Ossai, Izu Azuka, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Barnabas Imenger, Sope Ahmed, Daniel Akpeyi
Coach: Stephen Keshi
Egypt
Abdul-Wahed Al Sayed – Ahmed Saied, Basem Ali (Ahmed Elmohamady 46), Mahmoud Fattallah - Ahmed Temsah, Hossam Ashour (Ashour Al-Taqui 84), Hossam Ghaly, Mohamed Aboutrika (Emad Meteb 75), Mohamed Abdul-Shafi – Ahmed Hassan Mekki, Ahmed Abdul-Zaher
Coach: Bob Bradley
Well let's take stock. Home base can't beat Egypt. But a many say no to those foreign Nigerians. Um can home base beat Rwanda, Namibia and Malawi. Where is Egypt rated? Well they never made the last Cup of nations. But hey it's a friendly, and from all accounts Keshi is building well. So now combine these boys with those foreign Nigeria and guess what Eagles will fly high. The European leagues are coming to an end, so there will be time to blend these boys. Moses , Aluko, Osaze, are all doing well in the UK. So the best 20 plus those at home in camp. Trim that down to 25 and the Eagles will be moving up the ladder.
Dats a gud 1 for nigeria
The game is ok,start is not the end.keshi know what is doin,home Eagle need believe n trust
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