Izuchukwu OkosiPrime Business Africa presents the player ratings of the Super Eagles team that defeated Mozambique 3-2 in their second international friendly at the Estádio Municipal de Albufeiraa in Portugal.
The win was the first in five years after previously drawing seven and losing eight friendly games dating back to March 2019.
Goalkeeper
Francis Uzoho: It was a tad surprising that Uzoho was the goalkeeper in between the sticks in Monday’s friendly against Mozambique and not either Maduka Okoye or Olorunleke Ojo.
Uzoho was at fault for the first goal scored by the Mambas as he was badly positioned. The second goal came via a set piece which is symptomatic of the poor defensive structure of the team. 3/0.
Defenders
Bright Osayi-Samuel: The right back fared better than his left back international teammate, Bruno Onyemaechi.
He made some runs into the opposition half as usual but the final product was lacking. 6/10.
Bruno Onyemaechi: The left back had a more withdrawn game against Mozambique than he had in the Saudi Arabian clash. His usual fine crosses were at premium against the East Africans. 6/10.
Kenneth Omeruo: The captain and longest serving member of the team who was part of the 2013 AFCON triumph had an okay game but was at fault for not preventing the pass that led to the first Mozambique goal. 5/10.
Jordan Torunarigha: Covered the blade of the Eagles back line especially when Onyemaechi was on ‘his bike’ motoring forward. 6/10.
Midfielders
Raphael Onyedika: The midfielder had his debut start game for the Super Eagles and was decent enough. Good progressive carries. 6/10.
Frank Onyeka: The Brentford midfielder scored the first Nigerian goal with a fierce shot from long distance. 7/10.
Tom Dele-Bashiru: The Turkey based midfielder was not overly awed by the occasion in his debut for the Super Eagles. Brought some urgency in the middle of the pack. 6/10.
Joe Aribo: The Southampton midfielder was deployed on the right side of attack to accommodate Dele-Bashiru in the middle. His lack of pace might be a hindrance to this experiment going forward. Was fouled which led to the red card to the Mozambique side. 6.5/10.
Forwards
Moses Simon: Scored the third goal from the penalty spot and was also dangerous with his crosses. 7/10.
Terem Moffi: The striker scored the equaliser to make if 1-1 with less than 20 minutes played.
A good statement of intent to be in the thoughts of the head coach as the Eagles now boasts of an array of great strikers. 8/10.
The substitutes
Chidozie Awaziem: Had little to do when he came off the subs bench but a solid addition to the team. Good to see his return. 5/10.
Alex Iwobi: The Fulham forward brought calmness in the middle as the game petered away. At the moment, Jay Jay Okocha’s nephew remains the creative hub of the team. 6/10.
Ademola Lookman: Almost assisted a goal when he was introduced in the second half. Lookman had a more promising outing than he had against Saudi Arabia but some fo his final balls still leave much to be desired. 5/10.
Umar Sadiq: A likable character but on the football side of things, hasn’t pulled the trees to reassure the supporters that he can become the goals king of the team. Ways slow to react to the ball. 3/10.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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