The Nigeria U23 team were yesterday beaten 0-1 by their Sudanese counterparts in the first leg tie of the final round of the race to be at the Africa U23 Cup of Nations, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.
Our correspondent who watched the game put together a list of five players who didn’t play at the level expected of them in the game ahead of the return leg on Tuesday in Asaba, Delta state, Nigeria.
Blessing Olabiran – The Tambov of Russia wing forward had a day to forget, hardly got involved in the first half and when he did he was very wasteful in possession. A good dribbler base on the flashes he showed, his major problem was that he was not on the same wavelength with the rest of his teammates.
Sunday Faleye – Put up a very impressive shift in the sense that he covered lot of grounds but where it matters most he was found wanting. His passes were wayward and his link up play was no where near the standard he achieved when he represented Nigeria at the 2018 CHAN Championship.
John Lazarus – A surprise selection ahead of Etboy Akpan considering how poor he was in the last round of qualifiers particularly the game away to Libya. He followed it up with another performance devoid of confidence. Simply put he was a liability to the team in defence with the Sudanese targeting him severally when they attack. He was atrocious going forward as well.
Taiwo Awoniyi – A bit unfair to have him in the list because the service to do damage wasn’t there in the first place. He is however listed because when he did find space in the first half he couldn’t convert what would have given Nigeria the lead. In the second half he hardly had a touch of the ball.
Adamu Abubakar – Sent off in the first leg tie against Libya in the last round, he was once again given the nod to start in goal. Came out of his line wrongly for the only goal of the game . Looks very uncomfortable in dealing with crosses and his ability to organize the defence was clearly not there.
