Monday, January 12, 2015
Salomon Kalou's Late Strike Gives Ivoriens Victory Over Super Eagles
Add BBN on 2BAFB965
It took an 84th minute Salomon Kalou winner to stop the home-based Eagles from sharing honours with star-studded Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire in an international friendly played in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
The Eagles 'B' team selected mainly from the Glo Premier League, held their own against the Ivorians who are favourites to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations starting in Equatorial Guinea this weekend.
The first half ended on a barren note despite the presence of nearly all the top stars the Elephants paraded at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The lads tutored by Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, in the absence of out-of-contract Stephen Keshi, almost went in front from a corner kick in the early stage of the game but the final touch was not there to trouble the Elephants.
Kano Pillars' Gambo Mohammed played a delightful through ball for Mfon Udoh to latch on in the 15th minute but the Ivorian goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohou, was quick to shut him out.
In the 28th minute, Gervinho brilliantly out-paced Eagles' Solomon Kwambe on the right and crossed for Yaya Toure whose shot was blocked by Chigozie Agbim. The rebound was cleared into safety.
Serge Aurier got behind a Serey Die corner kick but could not keep his effort on target as the Ivorians upped the tempo towards the end of the first half with Yaya Toure leading the charge.
The chances were far between each other as Eagles were able to contain their more illustrious counterparts at the end of the first half.
Swiss-born midfielder Steven Ukoh came on for Kingsley Sokari in the second half after the Enyimba player picked up an injury early in the second half.
The Super Eagles were gaining in confidence as Rabiu Ali and new entrant Ukoh pulled the strings for Nigeria but lack of decisiveness in the final third was their bane.
Gervinho, though isolated for long periods of the game was always a constant threat and only a last ditch tackle from Azubuike Egwuekwe in the 63rd minute prevented the Roma man from getting through at Agbim's goal.
The game dragged into a drab fest as the game got into the deep with end with both sides content to hold on to the ball around the midfield areas.
Rabiu Ali then gifted Ivory Coast their winner. His mistake gave Cheick Tiote the chance to run into the Nigerian defence and cross for Salomon Kalou to score for the Elephants in the 84th minute.
Kalou had another chance two minutes later to put Ivory Coast in the driver's seat but could not connect his header on target as the game fizzled out as a contest.
The Super Eagles will continue their United Arab Emirates tour on January 17 when they take on the Falcons of Jediane of Sudan in Abu Dhabi.
Nigeria team:
Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe, Chima Akas, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kingsley Sokari (Steven Ukoh), Rabiu Ali, Gambo Mohammed, Stanley Dimgba (Gbolahan Salami), Nathaniel Joseph, Mfon Udoh (Christian Obiozor).
The Eagles 'B' team selected mainly from the Glo Premier League, held their own against the Ivorians who are favourites to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations starting in Equatorial Guinea this weekend.
The first half ended on a barren note despite the presence of nearly all the top stars the Elephants paraded at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The lads tutored by Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, in the absence of out-of-contract Stephen Keshi, almost went in front from a corner kick in the early stage of the game but the final touch was not there to trouble the Elephants.
Kano Pillars' Gambo Mohammed played a delightful through ball for Mfon Udoh to latch on in the 15th minute but the Ivorian goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohou, was quick to shut him out.
In the 28th minute, Gervinho brilliantly out-paced Eagles' Solomon Kwambe on the right and crossed for Yaya Toure whose shot was blocked by Chigozie Agbim. The rebound was cleared into safety.
Serge Aurier got behind a Serey Die corner kick but could not keep his effort on target as the Ivorians upped the tempo towards the end of the first half with Yaya Toure leading the charge.
The chances were far between each other as Eagles were able to contain their more illustrious counterparts at the end of the first half.
Swiss-born midfielder Steven Ukoh came on for Kingsley Sokari in the second half after the Enyimba player picked up an injury early in the second half.
The Super Eagles were gaining in confidence as Rabiu Ali and new entrant Ukoh pulled the strings for Nigeria but lack of decisiveness in the final third was their bane.
Gervinho, though isolated for long periods of the game was always a constant threat and only a last ditch tackle from Azubuike Egwuekwe in the 63rd minute prevented the Roma man from getting through at Agbim's goal.
The game dragged into a drab fest as the game got into the deep with end with both sides content to hold on to the ball around the midfield areas.
Rabiu Ali then gifted Ivory Coast their winner. His mistake gave Cheick Tiote the chance to run into the Nigerian defence and cross for Salomon Kalou to score for the Elephants in the 84th minute.
Kalou had another chance two minutes later to put Ivory Coast in the driver's seat but could not connect his header on target as the game fizzled out as a contest.
The Super Eagles will continue their United Arab Emirates tour on January 17 when they take on the Falcons of Jediane of Sudan in Abu Dhabi.
Nigeria team:
Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe, Chima Akas, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kingsley Sokari (Steven Ukoh), Rabiu Ali, Gambo Mohammed, Stanley Dimgba (Gbolahan Salami), Nathaniel Joseph, Mfon Udoh (Christian Obiozor).
•BBN360
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
No comments :
Post a Comment