Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says some of the players he called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the friendly game against Algeria were not known to him.

Peseiro handed call up to three new players in Savior Godwin, Raphael Onyedika and Ebube Duru but he also had seven players he hasn’t worked with before in Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Chidera Ejuke, Maduka Okoye, Kevin Akpoguma and Taiwo Awoniyi in the squad for the game.

Speaking after the 1-2 loss to Algeria in yesterday’s international friendly game, Peseiro revealed that some of the players he called up he didn’t quite know them but now he does and going forward it will shape his decision regarding future call ups to the team.

Raphael and Godwin played for the first time with the national team. They did well. I called nine players I don’t really know before. Players who have not played with me before but some of them have played with the national team .

“Players we are just working with for the first time. Everybody played. Good job all around”, he remarked.

The name Ethan Nwaneri dominated discussions before all top leagues went on break for the international round of games, which were concluded yesterday around the world.

Nwaneri became the youngest ever Premier League player at 15 years and 181 days when he played the final three minutes of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Brentford which saw them go back to top of the table.

Born in the United Kingdom to a Nigerian father by name Obi, the international future of the talented teen is safely in the hands of England where he is already a youth international. As a matter of fact there are talks of fast tracking him to the U21s.

However there is still a glimmer of hope that he could yet play for Nigeria particularly if his chance with England fails to arrive as he sees a player of the senior national team of Nigeria as his idol. The player in question according to his father is Alex Iwobi.

” Iwobi’s rise to the top at Arsenal inspired my son and he sees him as his idol till date. I am also close to his parents so it was easy mentoring my son who was still very young when Iwobi broke into the first team at Arsenal. The dream to match and surpass the feat by Iwobi is also a driving force”, the father said while speaking on the rise of his son to the first team of Arsenal.

Brazil rounded up their preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a comprehensive 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia in what is their final warm up game before the start of the tournament.

Prior to the game they had earlier defeated Ghana 3-0. The games against the African countries is meant to help prepare them for the group game against Cameroon at the tournament proper.

It is for that reason that senior players in the team are pushing the football federation to play another African team in Nigeria, who held them to a 1-1 draw in 2020 when both teams clash in a friendly game.

Yesterday after the game in Paris, Brazilian journalists who were at the game told OwnGoalNigeria.com representative at the game that a game against Nigeria will most likely happen before the World Cup on the request of the star players in the team.

The idea is the playing style of Cameroon is similar to that of Nigeria and the Super Eagles will pose more of a threat with their physical and pacey approach just like the Indomitable Lions.

The senior national team of Algeria secured a comeback 2-1 win over Nigeria in an international friendly game played as part of the ceremony for the opening of the pitch at Oran.

OwnGoalNigeria.com senor editor Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman takes a look at five things we noticed during the course of the game particularly players and the system of play Jose Peseiro loves which is an all attacking style.

1. Goalkeepers Crisis : It’s not even up for debate anymore. The problem does exist as both Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho have taken turns to commit high profile blunders which has proved costly. Adebayo Adeleye the other goalkeeper in the team didn’t cover himself in glory either when he played in the second half of the 2-2 draw against Algeria B.

2. Playing From The Back – The style isn’t quite the problem but having players who can execute it perfectly is usually the main issue. For instance Okoye isn’t the best with the ball at his feet, Uzoho who is a little bit better can’t be said to be that good at it. Again playing with Frank Onyeka means beating the press when playing from the back is almost impossible as he isn’t the best with his passing range or decision making under present.

3. Terem Moffi Is Here To Stay – He showed his form at Lorient isn’t a fluke. Held the ball nicely. Showed good movements and awareness around the box particularly in the goal he scored and even for the second goal which was wrongly disallowed, he teed up Ademola Lookman by being the fastest to react to a loose ball. Showed magnificent first touch severally.

4. Kevin Akpoguma And Calvin Bassey – They combined like they have been playing together for years.  The duo are the only two Nigerian defenders enjoying regular run of games and it showed in how they complimented each other. A building partnership that could be the future mainstay of the defence.

5. Alex Iwobi Is Undroppable – He showed he holds the key to the system Peseiro wants to play. With Frank Onyeka’s limited on the ball ability, Iwobi severally dropped down to help the team beat the press and play from the back. He was also very involved in help making the transition from defence to attack. No one else can give the team what he gives at the moment.

Nigeria international midfielder Alex Iwobi has faulted the decision of the referee to cancel what would have been the second goal for the senior national team of Nigeria in the 1-2 defeat to Algeria.

Nigeria went ahead in the 9th minute through Terem Moffi and thought they had a two goal lead when Moffi played in Ademola Lookman to tap into an empty net but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Television replays afterward showed the goal should have stood as Moffi was onside and well ahead of Lookman who he laid the ball to. The decision happened a few minutes before Algeria drew level from the spot.

They went on to claim what is their third straight defeat against Nigeria in their last three games but Iwobi still believes the goal which Nigeria scored should have stood and it would have made a difference to the final score.

“One Example… Really Confused As To How This Was Disallowed For Offside”, he posted on Twitter with a picture of the action that led to the goal. Anyway we move….”,he said in the next post.

Coach of the senior national team of Algeria Djamel Belmadi has revealed the secret of his team comeback win against the senior national team of Nigeria yesterday.

Algeria recovered from going a goal down as early as the 9th minute to claim a 2-1 win with Riyad Mahrez and Youcef Atal getting the goals that nullified Terem Moffi’s opening goal for Nigeria.

Speaking on how his team were able to turn the scores around and how they bossed the Nigerian team in the second half, the coach pointed out the introduction of Nabil Bentaleb as key to their dominat display in the second half.

He said the introduction of Bentaleb helped them to reorganize and denied Alex Iwobi time and space on the ball to spray the passes that Nigeria need for the transition from defence to attack.

“Nigeria are a good team, it was a real test. We played against them 3 times under my tenure. We beat them 3 times. They wanted to take their revenge”, he said.

“I like what we saw in the second half in midfield. Normally, there is everything you need to have a seat and a way to play. We have what it takes with these three players. They have a half-time lived together. It takes time.

“Conceding a goal can break your momentum. We lacked vigilance, I don’t like it because I insist on it. We stuck to our plan. We relocated and reworked this team”, he rounded up saying.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says the Super Eagles of Nigeria didn’t lose yesterday’s game due to the blunder by goalkeeper Francis Uzoho rather it was down to poor officiating.

Uzoho was beaten by a long range effort from Youcef Atal which ended as the winner in the 2-1 for the Desert Foxes. The Omonia Nicosia goal tender was badly positioned and misjudged the the flight of the ball despite the length it travelled before getting to him.

Reacting to the blunder, Peseiro said the goal wasn’t the decisive moment of the game rather it was the decision of the referee not to award a goal which would have put Nigeria 2-0 up that decided the game. The goal was ruled out for offside but replays showed it should have stood.

“Everybody makes mistake. Myself and the players can make mistake. We scored a goal that was disallowed,”he said.

“The penalty I could accept. He shoot the ball before Frank caught him. We must accept. There was no offside when we scored. It should have been 2-0 to us at that point”.

He said the main aim of the team still remains winning the next Africa Cup of Nations and he feels they are on track but more friendly matches is needed to help the team perfect some areas of concern.

“I’m sad with the result but we did well. We want to win the next AFCON. First, we must qualify and play quality friendly matches and have more camping”, he explained.

“We want to have a a solid team. We have a good team and we want to improve. Everybody must work together. Myself, my staff and the NFF . We can play at the highest level.”

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has picked the areas he wants his team to improve on after the 1-2 loss to Algeria yesterday in an international friendly game.

The Portuguese coach watched on as his boys let slip a ninth minute lead to lose the game which was played in front of a capacity crowd in Algeria as part of the ceremony marking the opening of the pitch at Oran.

Asked on the lessons learnt from the two games played in Algeria, the coach whose team also drew 2-2 against the B team of Algeria said he is satisfied with the defence but the team still needs improvement in attack.

“We didn’t do well in attack at times, i think we can do better in that phase. We can improve our game generally. We did well defensively but we can do more offensively. Control the ball more, show more character and fight real hard”,

“We need to improve our organisation, put new dynamics. We need to work more . We have quality players but we need to improve in the area of organization”, he stated.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says the Super Eagles of Nigeria didn’t lose yesterday’s game due to the blunder by goalkeeper Francis Uzoho rather it was down to poor officiating.

Uzoho was beaten by a long range effort from Youcef Atal which ended as the winner in the 2-1 for the Desert Foxes. The Omonia Nicosia goal tender was badly positioned and misjudged the the flight of the ball despite the length it travelled before getting to him.

Reacting to the blunder, Peseiro said the goal wasn’t the decisive moment of the game rather it was the decision of the referee not to award a goal which would have put Nigeria 2-0 up that decided the game. The goal was ruled out for offside but replays showed it should have stood.

“Everybody makes mistake. Myself and the players can make mistake. We scored a goal that was disallowed,”he said.

“The penalty I could accept. He shoot the ball before Frank caught him. We must accept. There was no offside when we scored. It should have been 2-0 to us at that point”.

He said the main aim of the team still remains winning the next Africa Cup of Nations and he feels they are on track but more friendly matches is needed to help the team perfect some areas of concern.

“I’m sad with the result but we did well. We want to win the next AFCON. First, we must qualify and play quality friendly matches and have more camping”, he explained.

“We want to have a a solid team. We have a good team and we want to improve. Everybody must work together. Myself, my staff and the NFF . We can play at the highest level.”

The senior national team of Algeria secured a comeback 2-1 win over Nigeria in an international friendly game played as part of the ceremony for the opening of the pitch at Oran.

Owngoalnigeria.com rates the players on parade for Nigeria in the game.

Francis Uzoho – He didn’t look commanding even before his error that decided the game in favor of Algeria. The only edge he probably has over Maduka Okoye is probably his ability with his legs….. 4/10

Ola Aina – Not news that he uses both feet very well and he now looks more assured in tackles. He was however not as commanding as he was in the previous games where he operated from the same position….. 5/10

Zaidu Sanusi – Has unbelievable energy to patrol the flank. The final ball was missing today and he was sloppy in possession unlike his usual self…… 5/10

Kevin Akpoguma – Solid on his return to the team. Showed very good understanding with Bassey even though they were playing together for the first time. He was unbeatable in aerial duels, solid in making blocks and also brought the ball out from the back with ease. Nice way to mark his return to the tea……. 6.5/10

Calvin Bassey – Started and ended the game with the same authority that is slowly becoming his trademark. Won all that was thrown at him. Worked nicely in tandem with Akpoguma. Unfortunate to be on the losing side…….7/10

Frank Onyeka – His energy level is unmatched but still needs to work on using the ball especially when he is under pressure. His clumsy tackle handed Algeria the spot kick which helped them to draw level…….. 5/10

Alex Iwobi – If there is any player who was very comfortable even when under pressure then it has to be Iwobi. Held the ball nicely and brought others into play effortlessly. Still need a partner to help make the team’s woes in the midfield a thing of the past……. 7.5/10

Moses Simon – Solid but not spectacular. Defended very well when under pressure and it probably played a role in why he wasn’t that influential in attack. Not one of his best displays in Nigeria’s shirt…… 6/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – Thrice had the chance to play in a better placed teammate with a simple pass but decided to go for glory. Wasteful in possession and didn’t quite understand his role hence couldn’t interpret it as expected……..5/10

Terem Moffi- Showed great awareness to score the goal. Wonderful first touch means his hold up play was on another level. Troubled Algeria for the time he was on the pitch……..6/10

Ademola Lookman – Lively in the first half, anonymous and wasteful in the second half. No surprises when he was subbed off. He has to step up his game if he wants to keep his spot in the team………. 4/10