The Super Eagles of Nigeria concluded their mid-season friendly plans with a game against World Cup-bound Jordan, and the African giants had to settle for a 2 – 2 draw despite the game’s positives.
Head coach Eric Chelle continued with his objectives to integrate the newly called-up players into the team, and it was not surprising to find a relatively unfamiliar center-back pairing comprising Emmanuel Fernandez and Igoh Ogbu. Yira Collins Sor also started the game, with Philip Otele coming on late in the game for his first match in Super Eagle colors.
Super Eagles Overturn Jordan Deadlock Before Halftime
ounced on a loose ball and let fly from the edge of the box to make it 1 -1. In the 41st minute, Fernandez was on the end of a cross that the Jordan defence failed to deal with, and the defender put the ball away from close range with clinical poise.
It was a beautiful goal to mark the start of his career in green for the Super Eagles, and it would have been a perfect end to the game. Nigeria got a couple of good chances in the second half, but those came after the Jordan equaliser.
Nizar Al-Rashdan was the provider this time, lifting a pass over the Nigerian defence to find Mohammed Ratib on the right side of the box. The winger maintained his composure to fire his shot beneath the onrushing Adebayo Adeleye, who had replaced Uzoho in the second half, to make it 2 – 2.
With matters levelled, the Super Eagles seemed to start generating better passes and creating chances, but the winner proved elusive. Alex Iwobi missed the best chance of the half, as his low drive was wayward with the Jordanian goalie Yazeed Abu Laila well beaten.
Debutants Show What Nigeria Has Been Missing
It is not hard to picture this current crop of Nigerian players at the World Cup, as they seem to have improved significantly in the past year. While many were of the opinion that William Troost-Ekong’s international retirement will leave a gaping hole in the defence, it has certainly not been the case.
The captain and hero of AFCON 2023 will be missed, for sure, but the team has stumbled upon defensive gems in Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez. At full strength, the present Super Eagles squad could be one of the most complete squads at the World Cup, if they had qualified.
The major positive is that the future, at last, seems bright for the Super Eagles. Barring unfortunate events, the team looks set to compete at the top levels internationally. It is a pain that they won’t be at the World Cup to take advantage of the expanded format for better results, but all that is in the past.
African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers are already underway, and the Super Eagles may be getting their schedules filled up before the end of the year. For now, it is a return to club football, as the European teams have resumed for the run-in to the end of the season.
