Image source: @PoojaMedia on X
New Nigerian national team coach Finidi George’s debut match ended in a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday. Nigeria had to come back from behind to force a draw in what was a must-win World Cup qualifier match. The coach appeared to have switched things up from the lineup Nigeria used in the AFCON finals earlier in the year under Jose Peseiro. He chose a 4-4-2 formation over Peseiro’s favored 3-4-3.
Finidi George. Image credit @Otysilas on X
Nigeria’s lineup against Bafana Bafana consisted of Nwabali in goal and some relatively new names in the defence. He had Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey partnering in the center-back position. Benjamin Tanimu started in the right-back position while Bright Osayi-Samuel was in left back. Captain William Troost-Ekong was left out of the squad on account of injury.
The midfield featured senior man Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru while his two-pronged attack featured Atalanta ace and Europa hattrick hero Ademola Lookman and Trabzonspor’s big man Paul Onuachu. The absence of key star players was quite obvious as Napoli forward Victor Osimhen did not play on account of injury. Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface who won the Bundesliga Young Player of the Year award was on the bench along with Terem Moffi, and AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze.
Nigeria appeared to have an early chance when Iheanacho took the first freekick of the game. He put the ball into South Africa’s penalty area and was deftly collected by Ademola Lookman who was able to release a cross towards the far post. The ball found Paul Onuachu’s head but he couldn’t convert and it went out for a goal kick. Lookman continued to be a threat up front as he attempted to create chances and fire shots at the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper. The match was goalless until the 29th minute when a beautiful play from South Africa resulted in Sithole’s defense-splitting through ball to Themba Zwane who beat Bassey and Semi Ajayi before firing the ball into the left-bottom corner of Nwabali’s post for the South Africans to take the lead. South Africa threatened to score for the rest of the first half but they couldn’t quite convert their chances. Percy Tau put a teammate one-on-one with Nwabali but the Nigerian goalkeeper came from his post to disturb the player and the ball was headed over for a corner. In the 38th minute, Teboho Mokoena got hold of a ball on the right side of the penalty area but his shot was off target.
Image credit @Otysilas on X
Lookman played a brilliant cross onto the head of Onuachu but the six-foot-nine striker couldn’t convert the chance as he forced South Africa’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to make an important save. Bafana Bafana remained 1-0 up at the end of the first half to the dismay of the Nigerian fans who filled the stadium.
Image credit @Otysilas on X
The Super Eagles got their equalizer a few minutes into the second half. Alex Iwobi played a direct pass to Dele-Bashiru who managed to shake off a defender and turn before he shot into the bottom right corner of the Williams’ goalpost. Both teams looked dangerous at different points in the game but they couldn’t convert chances and the game eventually ended 1-1.
This is Nigeria’s third draw in the World Cup Qualifiers. The previous two draws were also by the same scoreline against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Nigeria has only managed three points from three games which have left the Super Eagles in the 5th position of Group C. There’s still a lot to be played for and several matches for Nigeria to turn things around but it’s not an encouraging position to be in, especially for a team that finished as runner-ups in this year’s AFCON. If Nigeria doesn’t start winning soon, they risk missing another World Cup and that would just be disappointing. It’s not an encouraging result and not the best way for Finidi George to start but there is room and time for improvement. Nigeria shouldn’t be struggling for goals considering the amount of top talent they have in the attack but that seems to be the case. Whatever Finidi George is going to do, he needs to do it fast and get his team to make sure Nigeria is back to winning ways. The next match is against Benin and it will be played on Monday at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Ivory Coast. Do you think Nigeria can finally start winning?