10th February, 2012
Nigeria’s Super Eagles continued their build-up for the friendly against Liberia next week and the Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda on Friday morning in Abuja, with a commanding 3-0 win against Nationwide division one side Voice of Nigeria (VON), Abuja.
The match played at the artificial turf of the FIFA Goal Project at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, saw Head Coach Stephen Keshi, trying out many new players who proved too much for the amateur side.
However, it was regulars like goalkeeper Okemute Odah, Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Azubuike Egwueke, Papa Idris, who starred in the defence, while Gabriel Reuben, Ossai Uche, Sunday Emmanuel and newcomer Henry Uche held sway in the midfield. Kalu Uche and Izu Azuka played upfront in the 4-4-2 formation of Keshi.
The game started on a high note for the Eagles when after just two minutes, Uche raced clear from the left, found a lurking Kalu who pushed the ball to Azuka to tap in for the opening goal.
That goal seemed to have woken up the VON side, as they started contesting every ball and stopped the free flow rhythm of the national team. It must be said though that the Eagles goalie was practically on holidays despite the resistance of the opposition. The game continued in a ding-dong affair until in the 41st minute when Oboabona’s brilliant overlapping move from the right flank found Azuka in the vital area, his first time shot was saved by the keeper, then there was a rebound but Kalu Uche was there to tap home for the second of the morning.
As the first half was coming to a close Oshaniwa had other ideas as his overlapping break from the left tore the VON defense apart and he laid it for Azuka to coolly finish for the third and last goal of the encounter watched by an average of Abuja residents. Some members of the female U20 side, the Falconets and a battery of journalists were on hand to cheer the team .The second half was also very eventful, though there were no goals.
Keshi changed the entire squad that featured in the first half and brought in the likes of Dan Akpeyi in goal, Kingsley Salami, Bathlomew Ibenegbu, Kola Anubi, Obina Nwachukwu, Chidi Osuchukwu, Kabir Umar, while Osas Omamo, was made the skipper. It was still one way traffic for the Eagles but they were wasteful in front of goal with Barnabas Imenger and Umar the worst culprit.
Keshi said at the end of the encounter that he was impressed with his wards’ display, but added that the new ones need time to blend with the rest of the squad.