The Super Eagles ended their training camp in Faro, Portugal in style
on Tuesday defeating Portuguese second division side, Farense 5-0, in a
game described by the Nigerian Coach Stephen Keshi as dress rehearsal
for the team’s opening game against Burkina Faso on January 21.
The match, which was again played at the Browns Sports and Leisure
Club in Faro, where the Nigerian side stayed throughout its sojourn in
Portugal, was barely five minutes when right back, Efe Ambrose surging
run into the danger area of the Portuguese was met with a vicious
hacking. Centre referee Luis Costa wasted no time in pointing to the
spot.
Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, stepped in to coolly slot home the
opener. But Farense made things difficult for the Eagles as Senegalese
born striker, Sone Diop, Falardo and dangerman Fabio Texeira attacked
sporadically in search of an equalizer that never happened. The Eagles
on the other hand had plenty of chances to have buried the game in the
first but Nosa Igiebor hit the cross bar thrice, Mikel followed suit
with a fiery shot that also hit the bar and Emmanuel Emenike also missed
a sitter.
In the second half Mr. Keshi made sweeping changes. Kenneth Omeruo
was brought in to replace Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa for Elderson
Echejile, Ogenyi Onazi for Mikel Obi, Sunday Mba for Igiebor, Obiorah
Nwankwo for Fegor Ogude, Ikechukwu Uche for Brown Ideye, Gabriel Reuben
for Efe Ambrose mid-way into the half, same as Vincent Enyeama whoi was
replaced by Chigozie Agbim.
There was no immediate impact with the changes until in the 75th
minute when an Emenike’s furious onslaught down the left wing of the
pitch was clinically finished off by Ikechukwu Uche for one of his three
goals of the evening. Goalkeeper Agbim must be credited for his quick
counter-attack throw to Emenike.
Uche was to score another in the 80th minute after nice footwork by
Ejike Uzoenyi left him face to face with goalie Sergio Serrar. He
blasted into the roof of the net. He completed his hat trick of the
evening after a fine interchange of passes between him, Onazi and Ejike.
Just as the referee was about blowing the final whistle Ejike set up
Emenike for the final goal on the dot of 90minutes for a comprehensive
demolition of the Farense side. The referee did not even allow for a
restart after the fifth goal.
Farense Coach Antero Afonso said at the end of the encounter that
his side has learnt useful lessons from the Nigerian national team and
predicted that the Super Eagles will do well at the championship going
by the quality of players he saw in the friendly. “You have what it
takes to win the championship, but you must take each game as it comes
and adopt different styles for different opposition. You have very quick
players so don’t allow yourself to be under pressure at any time in the
tournament. I may not know the teams that will be at the tournament but
the team I saw today should be among the favorites to win the African
Cup”, he said.
The Nigerian side will depart Faro by 12:30 Portuguese time for
Lisbon from where the team will connect a flight to Paris, France and
from there to Johannesburg, South Africa. The team is expected in
Nelspruit, venue of two of its first two group games on Thursday
morning.
source: SAHARA REPORTERS
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