Sports

Super Eagles Lose 49-year old Record, Beaten By Mali In Friendly

Nigeria’s Super Eagles could not maintain their winning run in the March international friendlies as thy suffered a 2-0 loss to the Les Aigles of Mali on Tuesday night in Marrakech, reports Prime Business Africa.

The Eagles under interim coach Finidi Geroge had beaten Ghana 2-1 on Friday but two goals in each half from El Bilal Toure and Koumba Doumbia ensured that Mali secured their first win over Nigeria in an international friendly since 1975.

The Nigerians, who were runners up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, conceded the first goal in the 18th minute when defender Chidozie Awaziem slipped while trying to clear the ball which Toure pounced on.

Kelechi Iheanacho was the bright spot in the Eagles but saw two of hs goal-bound efforts saved while Moses Simon failed to put away his chance when he was teed up by Alex Iwobi.

Simon was substituted by Finidi for Cyreil Dessers after the Nantes forward pulled up with an injury.

The three-time African champions will next face South Africa and Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

The South Africans drew 3-3 with Algeria in their FIFA international friendly series with Algeria also on Tuesday night.

Izuchukwu Okosi

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.