Super Eagles player ratings : Iwobi, Bassey impress; Uzoho rusty; Iheanacho fires blanks

The Super Eagles started brightly in Tuesday's international friendly against former African champions Algeria but ended the game empty handed  after a 2-1 defeat.

Izuchukwu Michael here rates the performances of the Eagles players.

The Starters 

Goalkeeper

Francis Uzoho : With just two games at club level this season, Uzoho's rustiness cost him. He had a poor game by all standards as he was badly positioned for the goal scored by Youcef Atal in the second half.

The Omonia Nicosia keeper could have held the ball firmly from a cross but he chose to punch the ball away and had no answer t look the wonderful strike. 4/10.

Defenders 

Ola Aina : The right back had an average game defensively and was not usually his marauding self down the channel. 5/10.

Zaidu Sanusi : The Porto left back had a considerably better first half but a very poor second half and was easily outwitted and out-muscled by Riyad Mahrez. 5/10.

Calvin Bassey : The only bright spot in the defence with his energetic displays. He made one very important clearance in the first half when Islam Slimani was clear on goal to score. 7/10.

Kelvin Akpoguma : Was sloppy most of the time but had one good moment in the second half when he trudged forward with the ball 5.5/10 

Midfielders and strikers

Frank Onyeka : The Brentford man committed the foul that led to the first half penalty converted by Riyad Mahrez. His second half display was slightly better. 5/10.

Alex Iwobi : The vastly improved Everton midfielder was as creative as he had been in recent matches for club and country.
He also covered Sanusi when he darted forward to support the attacking play. 8/10.

Kelechi Iheanacho : Delivered some long range shots albeit were fired directly to the arms of the Algerian keeper.

Lively performance but when every player is fit and available, he is probably just okay to be an impact player from the bench. 6/10.

Moses Simon : The Nantes winger was the captain of the evening for Nigeria and showed flashes of his quick feet down the left flank.

Still not at his AFCON levels just yet. 5/10.

Ademola Lookman : The Atalanta winger had a subdued game and at one moment in the second half made an embarrassingly poor pass that went out for a goal kick. His goal in the first half was disallowed for offside. 5/10

Terem Moffi : The Lorient striker scored Nigeria's goal in the first half but after that solitary contribution, was never really a threat to the Algerians. 6.5/10.

The Substitutes

Godwin Saviour : The former youth international showed hunger and willingness to impress but perhaps the Algerian defence was just too good cause any harm. 4/10.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Raphael Onyedika, Cyriel Dessers : The trio did not have ample time to impress individually. Coach Peseiro introduced them off the bench in the closing minutes. NA

Izuchukwu Michael

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