The senior national team of Nigeria drew 2-2 against the B team of Algeria in one of the two friendly games the team will play during the ongoing international break. The next game will be against the main team of Algeria on Tuesday.

Algeria were using the game to prepare their B team solely made up of players from the local league for the upcoming CHAN championship, which they will host and for Nigeria it’s a warm up game ahead of the big test against the main team.

The coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro used the game to hand a chance to players who haven’t played under him or even for the team with the quartet of goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, Ebube Duru, Raphael Onyedika and Savior Godwin making their international bow for Nigeria.

An error from goalkeeper Maduka Okoye who is staging a return to the team since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where his error was largely cited as the reason why Nigeria lost 0-1 to Tunisia to crash out of the tournament in the round of 16.

In an attempt to play from the back, he inexplicably failed to deal with a simple back pass as he got robbed leaving the Algerian striker with the easiest of tap ins to open scoring. The video of the goal is below.

Maduka Okoye's school boy error which gifted Algeria the opening goal in yesterday's 2-2 draw. What's your take? pic.twitter.com/JbwU9vTxVf

— Mr. Mowiz (@MrMowiz) September 24, 2022

The senior national team of Nigeria drew 2-2 against the B team of the Algeria national team in the first of the two friendly games they will be playing during the course of the international break.

OwnGoalNigeria.com picks out five key moments in the game which saw Alex Iwobi and Cyriel Dessers scoring for Nigeria after coming on as substitutes.

Okoye’s Error: Make that back to back error for the Watford goalkeeper in the colours of the team. He fumbled a simple back pass which helped Algeria take the lead when he was robbed in his bid to play from the back. He obviously looks short of confidence and match practice.

Iwobi’s Stunner – One of the best players in the team at the moment. He brought his form at Everton to the game with a stunning strike from range to draw Nigeria level. All through the time he was on the pitch he was solid. What a player he is turning to.

Bassey Gives Away Penalty – It could easily have been a comeback win for the Super Eagles if not for a penalty decision that went against Ajax defender Calvin Bassey. In his bid to get into position he impeded an Algerian forward in the box conceding a penalty which was hit past Adeleye to draw Algeria level.

Simon’s Growing Influence – After bagging two assists against Sierra Leone in Abuja, a goal and assist against Sao Tome and Principe in Morocco. Simon was again the provider for Dessers to put Nigeria 2-1 up. His clever cut back was perfectly dispatched by Dessers.

Dessers Finishing – May not be at the level of Kelechi Iheanacho or Victor Osimhen but when it comes to finishing in the box, he is on another level. The Cremonense forward placed a well weighted cut back from Simon in a spot that is unstoppable. His movement to create space, his positioning and also finish confirmed his predatory instinct.

The senior national team of Nigeria were force to rally from behind to claim a 2-2 draw against the B team of the Algeria national team.

Substitutes Alex Iwobi and Cyriel Dessers ensured the Super Eagles weren’t defeated by the Algerian team made up of players from their domestic leagues, who are preparing for the CHAN Championship.

Algeria went into the half leading 1-0 no thanks to a defensive mix up. It force coach Jose Peseiro into making a raft of second half changes by bringing in most of the regular players of the team.

Two of the substitutes ended up getting the goals that saved the blushes of the Nigerian team, who used the game as tune up for the main friendly game against the main team of Algeria on the 27th.

Starting Lineup.

Maduka Okoye
William Troost Ekong
Chidozie Awaziem
Valentine Ozornwafor
Ola Aina
Ebube Duru
Frank Onyeka
Raphael Onyedika
Chidera Ejuke
Ademola Lookman
Taiwo Awoniyi

The senior national team of Nigeria will today play one of the two friendly games they will play against Algeria during the course of the international break.

Later today around 6pm Nigerian time, the team will play the B team of Algeria largely made up of players picked from league teams in Algeria. They are using the game to test their readiness for the CHAN tournament which they will host.

OwnGoalNigeria.com gathered that the game won’t be on any television as it is a test game and not a recognized friendly game. The other game on the 27th is the game that will be on television and also open to all.

The game will see as many as seven players who have not played under the new coach Jose Peseiro play their first game. Below is how the coach has decided to line up his players for the game.

Lineup.

Maduka Okoye
William Troost Ekong
Chidozie Awaziem
Valentine Ozornwafor
Ola Aina
Ebube Duru
Frank Onyeka
Raphael Onyedika
Chidera Ejuke
Ademola Lookman
Taiwo Awoniyi

The senior national team of Nigeria will today play one of the two friendly games they will play against Algeria during the course of the international break.

Later today around 6pm Nigerian time, the team will play the B team of Algeria largely made up of players picked from league teams in Algeria. They are using the game to test their readiness for the CHAN tournament which they will host.

OwnGoalNigeria.com gathered that the game won’t be on any television as it is a test game and not a recognized friendly game. The other game on the 27th is the game that will be on television and also open to all.

This particular game will be behind close doors but certain handles covering Algeria football will no doubt provide update during the course of the game. Below is one of the handles expected to give daily update on the game.

@DZfoot, @Koora_Dzair,

The build up to the senior national team of Nigeria friendly games against Algeria suffered a setback when news came out this morning that Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi won’t be taking part in both games.

Ndidi returned back to England today due to what the social media handles of the club term as an injury. It effectively rules him out of the game against the B team of Algeria on the 23rd and the next game four days later against the main team of same country.

The entire issue took a whole new twist when reports emerged that the Leicester City man was left upset when he was told by coach of the team Jose Peseiro that he will play as a center back rather than his preferred role as a defensive midfielder.

According to US based Nigerian journalist Suleiman Folarin, Ndidi wasn’t happy with the decision by the coach and early this morning he left the camp of the team with what he said is a knock that requires urgent attention. His claims didnt go down well with Ndidi.

Responding via his Twitter and Instagram handles. Ndidi dismisses his take saying he should have verified what he heard before going public with it on his Twitter handle. On his Instagram story he went further to label the act by Folarin as embarrassing.

A swift reaction has been provided on why coaches of the senior national team of Nigeria have not signed any contract since they were officially announced as the technical crew of the team.

While head coach Jose Peseiro and his foreign assistants signed a performance related contract for one year, the Nigerian coaches who are his assistants are yet to sign any documents confirming their appointment.

The situation is said to be the reason why first assistant Finidi George and goalkeepers trainer Ike Shorunmu boycotted the trip for the friendly games against Algeria on the 23rd and 27th of September respectively. A story which was carried by Punch and also reproduced by our editorial team.

It has brought about a reaction from a source in the camp of the team who reached out to us and also a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). They brought gave a clear picture of the entire episode.

” Ike Shorunmu arrived here yesterday with Ebube Duru. So that alone shows he isn’t on strike ahead of the game. Finidi George is bereaved as he recently buried his sister. That is the reason why he is not here according to what I know”, a source in the camp told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

On the issue of their contracts, a chieftain of the NFF explained that it’s a process which the coaches are aware of and in the coming days it will be settled. He said communication with the coaches is smooth and all will be sorted out before the next international break, where they will take on Portugal.

When the senior national team of Nigeria take on Algeria in an international friendly game on the 23rd and 27th of September respectively they will be without the services of some of their coaches.

According to a report by Punch, head coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro agreed to be coach of the Nigerian team on a one year deal which has the option of getting extended if he meets certain laid down goals as stated in the contract.

It is reportedly worth $70,000 (N30m) a month, he will cater for his foreign assistants, who are three in number from his pay. He was also given three Nigerian assistants who will be taken care of by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Former Nigeria international Finidi George was appointed as his first assistant while Salisu Yusuf and Usman Abdallah where made second and third assistants respectively with Ike Shorunmu getting the post of goalkeepers trainer.

While Peseiro has a signed contract, the Nigerian assistants appointed by the NFF don’t have any of such with the football body and it led to two of the coaches boycotting the games against Algeria. Only the duo of Yusuf and Abdallah agreed to go on the trip.

Shorunmu and Finidi are insisting that for them to continue working with the team they must have their contract papers signed. The media officer of the team however played down the report but Shorunmu when contacted said he can’t speak on his contract because it’s personal.

The news that Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi won’t be available for Nigeria when they take on Algeria in an international friendly game has taken a big hit on the chances of the team getting a good result.

Nigeria will play two games against Algeria, one against the B team on Friday and the other game on Tuesday, the 27th of September in Oran, same place that will host the first friendly game.

Ndidi will be missing in both games due to injury but it’s looking like he won’t be missed that much as one of the new players who plays in his role has taken the team’s training session by storm. That player of Raphael Onyedika of Belgium side Club Brugge.

” He is naturally a good player. It goes without saying as he is very good on the ball and also off the ball. No one can say he hasn’t done well”,a player said after yesterday’s session.

Another player said he can see clearly why AC Milan were keen on signing him from Danish side Midtyjlland during the summer transfer window before he decided to join Club Brugge of Belgium.

” I was eager to see him play and I wasn’t disappointed. He is aggressive off the ball and very assertive when he has the ball. I clearly see why AC Milan were keen on him. I think he will give us a different dimension”, he said.

The senior national team of Nigeria will take on the B teams and the main team oof Algeria in two friendly games billed for the 23rd and 27th of Septemberrespectively.

Ahead of the game, OwnGoalNigeria.com senior editor Mohammed Yusuf Suleiman popularly known as Mowiz picks five players who have a point to prove to new coach Jose Peseiro.

Kevin Akpoguma – The Hoffenheim defender is back from a self imposed exile from the team. The pressure is now on him to show the form that has made him a regular in the Bundesliga in the Nigeria national team. Where he hasn’t quite step up.

It’s a new start for most players and now more than ever he stands the chance of nailing a regular spot with others bar Calvin Bassey struggling for game time.

Chidera Ejuke – From Gernot Rohr to Austine Eguavoen he usually wins them over but after a while he goes missing. A very good dribbler, his end product is still frustrating but he came to the camp on the back of bagging back to back assists for Hertha Berlin. Impressing the new coach should be high on his agenda.

Raphael Onyedika – With Wilfred Ndidi out injured the onus is now on the Club Brugge new signing to make the best out of what will be his first cap for Nigeria if he gets to play. The idea will be to impress the coach with the intention of earning more caps. The time is now.

Maduka Okoye – His case is more of trying to win back his spot as his rival Francis Uzoho didn’t do badly in the four games under new manager Jose Peseiro. Reports from the training of the team has it that he has so far done very well and he will be hoping it earns him a spot between the sticks to impress the coach in at least one of the two games.

Taiwo Awoniyi – Two goals for Nottingham Forest helped made his recall possible. The idea is not to displace Victor Osimhen who isn’t available for the game but it’s more like pushing to be the number one back up in his absence. A role he presently has to battle with the duo of Terem Moffi and Cyriel Dessers with Sadiq Umar unavailable like Osimhen due to injury.