Drama In Kaduna As Salah Strikes Late To Deny Nigeria A Win

A last gasp equaliser from Mohamed Salah ensured that the 2017 African Cup Of Nations Qualifier between Nigeria and Egypt ended in  a 1-1 draw at a jam-packed Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Friday evening.

The Super Eagles paid for their wastefulness in front of goal against the Pharoahs.

Ahmed Musa took the game to the Egyptians in the early minutes as he earned free kicks for his team.

In the 17th minute, Ahmed Hassan should have scored but he somehow failed to punish the Nigerians after a mistake from Efe Ambrose.

One minute later, Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikem produced a big save to deny the Egyptians the curtain raiser.

Moses Simon then bombarded his way to the box before unleashing a screamer which went close as the Super Eagles started to show a bit of quality.

In the final action of the first half, Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho forced the goalkeeper to a smart save.

Three minutes after recess, the isolated Odion Ighalo invented a great chance for himself which went close.

The pacy Musa then forced his way to the box before firing a tame effort which the goalkeeper confidently gathered.

On the hour mark, the curtain raiser finally arrived.

A well struck screamer from Iheanacho crashed off the crossbar to the path of Oghenekaro Etebo who scrambled the ball home.

In the 65th minute, Ikeme was at his best to deny the visitors the equaliser.

The all action Musa went close but it took the alertness of the goalkeeper to stop him from making it 2-0.

The Super Eagles should have wrapped up the game with six minutes left in the game.

Victor Moses latched on to a pass and dribbled the goalkeeper but his final delivery was cleared off the line by Hamada Tolba.

The home team were to pay for that costly miss as the Hector Cuper managed side broke their hearts with a heartbreaking equaliser at injury time.

Salah beat the offside trap when he was set up by Sobi before delivering a deadly finish beyond the helpless Ikeme.

The reverse fixture is in Alexandria on Tuesday.

Nigeria Starting XI: Carl Ikeme - Shehu Abdullahi, Stanley Amuzie, Godfrey Oboabona, Efe Ambrose - Mikel Obi (Skipper), Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho - Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo

Egypt Starting XI: Ahmed El-Shennawi - Omar Gaber, Ramy Rabia, Ahmed Hegazy, Hamada Tolba - Ibrahim Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Abdallah El-Said - Mahmoud Trezeguet, Ahmed Hassan Kouka, Mohamed Salah

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : thenff.com