Rabiu Ibrahim Puts On Show As Super Eagles Beat Niger In Friendly

A goal in either half from Ahmed Musa and Simon Moses was all the Super Eagles needed to defeat Niger 2-0 in an
 international friendly played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Tuesday.

The game was the second in charge for Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh.

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa raced for goal but he was stopped by a diving Niger tackle in the second minute.

The lively start by the home side showed they clearly meant business against the visiting team. Musa was clearly flying on the left wing and the Garden City fans expected a spark from their darling team.

Werder Bremen star Anthony Ujah was fouled inside the box and a spot-kick was awarded to Nigeria in the 10th minute.

Niger players were unimpressed and protested the decision to award the penalty but the match referee had his mind made up.

Musa scored from the penalty spot, but it was a close call because goalkeeper Daouda Kasali got his hands to the kick but it was too powerful to stop on its way to the back of the net.

The three-time African champions played more as a team, stringing passes and going forward with more confidence than what we saw in the match they played against Tanzania on Saturday.

Debutant Usman Mohammed was a delight to watch with his deft touches and brilliant moves in the middle of the park.

The fearless Musa had the ball in the net in the 33rd minute. Super Eagles players thought the goal ought to have stood, but the Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea said that the goal was scored from an offside position.

Nigeria enjoyed more of the ball, but Niger were not cowed by any means in the first half.

The hosts posted an encouraging showing in the first half, but Niger were not in Port Harcourt to lie down and die.  FC Taraba youngster Mohammed was the most lively player in the first stanza.

At the restart, Sunshine Stars attacker Prince Aggrey was handed his international debut when he replaced Mohammed.

The two teams were cautious at some stage in the second half. Rabiu Ibrahim was one of the bright spots of the half as the fans hailed almost all of his touches. He was been able to orchestrate things from midfield with aplomb.

Gent winger Moses brought another flavour to the game. His direct runs and mobility gave Niger something to worry about.

The second goal for the Super Eagles arrived five minutes from time from the Gent forward in a world class fashion.

The youngster controlled a misplaced pass in the Niger defence and rifled in to double Nigeria’s advantage.

Another substitute Aggrey should have scored the third goal for the hosts but his finish let him down.

How The Super Eagles Lined Up:

Carl Ikeme (Ikechukwu Ezenwa 80’), Solomon Kwambe (William Troost-Ekong 80’), Chima Akas, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Obiora Nwankwo, Usman Mohammed (Prince Aggrey 46’), Rabiu Ibrahim, Sylvester Igboun (Yaro Bature 61’), Anthony Ujah (Emmanuel Emenike 54’), Ahmed Musa (Moses Simon 63’)

Unused Substitutes: Kingsley Madu, Lukman Haruna, Emem Eduok, Austin Oboroakpo

Photo Credit : thenff.com