The coach of the Algerian team Georges Leekens has criticized his team poor defensive set up, which allowed Victor Moses time and space to score a brace in Nigeria 3-1 win over the Desert Foxes.

Moses scored the opener for Nigeria after 25th minute before adding another minutes into time added on to help Nigeria secure a comprehensive 3-1 win over Algeria.

” Iheanacho was full of running and my defenders couldn’t handle him. The space he created by dragging them was what allowed Victor Moses the chance to score twice” He said at the post match conference.

” We know the threat of Nigeria going forward, so we should have defended better especially in our box. We have seen our mistakes and we will hopefully correct them before our next game”.

The victory extended Nigeria’s lead at the top of group B to four points with Algeria now occupying the basement position in the group, due to an inferior goal difference even though they are on same point with Zambia.

Coach of the Nigeria team Gernot Rohr has revealed why regular forwards Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye didn’t play in yesterday’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers which Nigeria won 3-1 against Algeria.

Ighalo lead the line in the manager’s first game in charge while Ideye did same in Ighalo’s absence against Zambia, but the duo were left on the bench as Rohr opt to play Kelechi Iheanacho upfront.

” We have to approach games with different tactics and players. Iheanacho fits the way we wanted to play against Algeria, same way Ighalo and Ideye in our previous games” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” You also know that at a point in time all we needed to do was to manage the game as we not too comfortable at 2-1, with Algeria pushing to level and leaving space behind. Ahmed Musa was most needed at the time, and he proved us right judging by his performance.

” We had no need for either Ideye or Ighalo due to how the game went, but they are key players in the team. They are very talented and much needed”.

Super Eagles legend Taribo West has hailed the performance of defender Leon Balogun in Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Algeria saying the defender reminds him of himself during his playing days.

Balogun frustrated the Algerians from threatening the Nigerian goal in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo. Standing up tall against the threat of Yaccine Brahaimi, Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez.

West who had a distinguished career both at club and national team level believes the Mainz 05 defender has proven himself to be what Nigeria has been missing for a while.

” The boy (Leon Balogun) is good, he is no way the finished product yet, but have not seen any defender in the colours of Nigeria, who reminds me of myself like him” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” He won everything in the air, calm with the ball at his feet and good in reading and intercepting play. He is a natural leader, a sure captain material if he maintains his performance”.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria crushed the Algerian National team 3-1 to maintain leadership of group B in the CAF World Cup 2018 qualifiers.

Owngoalnigeria.com was at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, and now rates the performance of the players who made it easy for Nigeria to claim the all important win.

Daniel Akpeyi – Didn’t have much to do but wasn’t so confident with the ball at his feet, can be excused for the goal conceded by Nigeria, but still his poor positioning made it easy for Nabil Bentaleb long range effort to beat him….7.5/10

Kenneth Omeruo: Looked lost and out of sort at right back. Struggled to cope with the pace and trickery of Yacine Brahaimi, couldn’t match the FC Porto man and was the weak link in the team before his eventual substitution….6.5/10

Elderson Echiejile: Did enough to keep dangerman Riyad Mahrez quiet by curbing his attacking instinct and staying glued to the Leicester City star. Suspect all through but coped to see the game out….7.5/10

William Troost-Ekong: Solid in aerial duels and quick turn of pace aided his recovery even when he has to make up lot of grounds. Still need to learn a thing or two about positional awareness and usage of the ball….8/10

Leon Balogun: He has almost everything Nigeria have lacked in central defence over the past few years. Calm, calculative, solid in tackles and aerial duels. His composure on the ball is rare for a defender. Didn’t lose a single tackle all day long. Top man, Super Eagles main man….9/10

Eddy Onazi: Had an unusual discipline display for the Super Eagles, did just enough to shield the back four but was missing when Algeria scored their only goal. Won lots of tackles and took some for the team as well….8/10

Oghenekaro Etebo: Full of energy and pace. He didn’t leave any space uncovered, frustrated the Algerians all game long . Truly merited his spot in the team. A workaholic in the middle, he has come to stay….9.5/10

Mikel Obi: Captain, leader and motivator in chief. He lead the team from the get go with neat piece of skills in the midfield, hard to shake off the ball and got the goal his performance deserves….9/10

Alex Iwobi: Majestic in possession and a delight to watch. He sprayed the ball around nicely and connected with his teammates with the ease of a veteran despite his young age. The highlight of his display has to be the rainbow flick act that got the stadium chanting his uncle’s name, Austin Okocha….8/10

Kelechi Iheanacho: Lead the line well,and ran the Algerians ragged with his runs behind the defence and helped his team defensive shape by pressing the opponent from their half. Missed a chance to get his name on the score sheet but did enough to earn a strong rating….8.5/10

Victor Moses: Solid in defending, calm in possession, quick in attacking and deadly in the box. He was clearly the one man the Algerians hate to see on the ball. His brace capped a strong performance and earned him the man of the match award….9.5/10

Substitute:

Shehu Abdullahi: Added steel to the backline of the Super Eagles after replacing the injured Omeruo, up against a tired Brahaimi he contributed a lot to the team going forward in the closing stages of the game….7.5/10

Ahmed Musa: Picked up an assist and clearly troubled the Algerians with his pace and energy. Added a lot to the team and justified his inclusion…..7.5/10

Wilfred Ndidi: Slotted into the midfield with ease,which brought an instantaneous calm to the team. Calmly sprayed passes even in difficult situations….7.5/10

A brace from in form Chelsea wingback Victor Moses and another goal by his Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel helped Nigeria to a 3-1 win over Algeria.

The World Cup 2018 qualifiers tie, which was played at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo saw Nigeria go into the half time break with a 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from Moses and Mikel.

Moses scored the opener for Nigeria in the 25th minute before Mikel beat the offside trap to put Nigeria two goals ahead before three minutes before the half time break.

Nabil Bentaleb pulled a goal back for Algeria in the 67th minute but just when it seems like the Algerians will draw level, substitute Ahmed Musa broke free from the right before releasing a cross which was well controlled and coolly slotted home by Moses two minutes into time added on.

The 3-1 win means Nigeria are now four points clear at the top of the group B standings with six points from two games, after Cameroun were held to another draw, this time around a 1-1 draw against Zambia in Yaounde.

Arsenal 20 year old Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi showed how much he has learnt from his uncle Austin Okocha, with a piece of skill similar to that of his uncle during his playing days.

Okocha famed for his stylish dribble will no doubt be proud of his nephew after his rainbow flick piece of skill left two defenders of Algeria dead in their wake. See video below by opening the link below

https://twitter.com/afcvideo/status/797480586176823296

https://t.co/7LCKCOXbAU

Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel won’t be in charge of set pieces when Nigeria take on Algeria later today at the Nest of Champions, as Manager Gernot Rohr has appointed new players.

The duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Oghenekaro Etebo will share the set piece duties of the team, from around the opponent’s box, with Iheanacho in charge of freekicks from the right wing.

Etebo will take any free kick awarded to Nigeria around the left hand side of the defence of the Algerians, as Nigeria look to explore every available means of beating Algeria.

Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal that the duo were given special drills on free kicks during the Super Eagles training session in Uyo, and they didn’t disappoint.

Iheanacho had five efforts which troubled both Akpeyi and Alampasu while Etebo scored from three of his efforts, including a curler against Ikechukwu Ezenwa during training.

The inclusion of Oghenekaro Etebo in the Super Eagles line up for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers clash against Algeria came as a surprise to many followers of the Nigerian team.

Etebo was among the three changes made by the coach from the team that defeated Zambia 2-1 in Ndola, with William Troost Ekong and Victor Moses also coming into the starting line up.

The trio took the place of Moses Simon, Brown Ideye and Wilfred Ndidi with Daniel Akpeyi coming in between the sticks for the injured Carl Ikeme, who is the team regular first choice shot stopper.

On Etebo’s inclusion coach Rohr exclusively explained to Owngoalnigeria.com, that the CD Feirense forward merited his spot in the team based on his performances in training, plus he will be effective to the tactics the Eagles want to use against Algeria.

” He is very quick, Etebo will be our quick link from midfield to attack due to his pace. He will cover up the space we expect to have in the midfield. In training he was very good as well” He explained.

” Aside all of what he will add to the team, individually he also has goals in him. He is very good in getting into goal scoring position, we saw a lot of it for the U-23s during Rio 2016 and the CAF U-23s”.

21 year old Nigerian forward Fred Friday ended a six game goal drought in style for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar by scoring a hattrick to help them beat Turkish champions Besiktas 4-1.

Fred scored in the 15th, 40th and 59th minute of the friendly tie organised to keep players who didn’t travel for international games in shape.

The summer signing from Norwegian side Lillestrom last found the back of the net on the 18th of August 2016, when AZ defeated Serbian side Vojvodina in the Europa League.

However, he is yet to score a league goal for his new side in the 10 games he has played so far, and his last goal was for the U-21s in the third division, where he fired a brace to help them draw 2-2 with AFC.

Officials and fans of the team will be hoping the hattrick against Besiktas opens the floodgate of goals for the forward, who scored 14 goals in the two seasons he spent in Norway.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will today take on the Desert Foxes of Algeria at the Nest of Champions stadium in Uyo, in the race to be at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Owngoalnigeria.com bring to you the various channels which fans of both teams can get to watch the game live.

Date: Saturday, November 12, 2016.

Time: 5pm local time, 4pm BST (UK), 11am ET, 8am PT (US), 9:30pm IST (India)
TV : SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 3 Nigeria, SuperSport 9.

Online: beIN Sports Connect, FuboTV (US & Canada).