Nigeria's Eagles defeat Rotterdam

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Nigeria's Super Eagles in a line-up

Tunde Oyedele/Sports editor

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Sparta Rotterdam, a Dutch Division 2 Football Club 1-0 in a pre-African Cup of Nations friendly match played in Portugal Saturday afternoon.

Emmanuel Emenike scored the only goal of the encounter in the 55th minute, following a pass from CSKA Moscow striker, Ahmed Musa, who dribbled through Rotterdam’s rear.

The Nigerian team, coached by Stephen Keshi failed to raise the net until Emmanuel Emenike netted the only goal of the encounter in the 55th minute.

The encounter, played at the Browns Sports Club in Portugal, saw the Joseph Yobo-led Eagles playing below par, as the lower division side from Holland took the game to the Nigerians.

Former youth international, Kenneth Omeruo, who paired Yobo, played the game of his life to curtail the rampaging Rotterdam strikers early in the tie.

When the visiting side failed to break through the Eagles’ rear, the Nigerian team took over proceedings, trying to beat the Dutch club, but Nosa Igiebor blew a close range opportunity to shoot the Eagles to the lead. After losing the 6th minute chance, Emenike also wasted a chance to score in the 11th minute.

Mikel Obi and Igiebor exchanged passes and pushed the ball through to him, but he ballooned the effort into touch.

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After the Eagles failed with several chances created in the first half, Emenike scored via a pass from Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, but referee Bronsvoort Wim disallowed it, as the assistant referee caught him in an offside position.

The Eagles however took control of the tie but the Nations Cup bound side failed to score. The first half ended on a barren note, but the Eagles came back purposefully into the second half and fought for more ball possession.

The effort paid off as Musa, who missed some scoring chances in the first half, grabbed a pass from the defence, dribbled Rotterdam defence and sent a finished pass to Emenike, who scored the long awaited goal for Nigeria barely ten minutes into the second half.

Rangers’ Ejike Uzoenyi, however had a feel of the match when the Technical Crew introduced him and pulled out Chelsea forward, Victor Moses, who also missed a some chances in the match.

Number one goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama was not really tested, especially in the second half, but Donovan Deekman, who played as top striker for Rotterdam, tried one or two moves which did not shake the Eagles defence.

Ikechukwu Uche, who is considered one of Nigeria’s best scorers came in with Sunday Mba and Brown Ideye, but they did not change the result.

Former Warri Wolves goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, now with Rangers of Enugu, relieved Enyeama and maintained the clean slate kept by the Israeli-based shot stopper till end of the encounter.

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