5th May, 2011
Nigeria’s Super Eagles Team B, started their title defence in the ongoing West Africa Football Union, WAFU Cup at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, on a scrappy note as they struggled to defeat Liberia 1-0 in the opening match this evening.
The Nigerian team, who only had a day’s training session as a result of the postponement of the resumption date of the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, due to the general election, started the encounter on a promising note.
But the team later fizzled out and paved the way for the Liberians, coached by Thomas Kodjo to have a field day.
The Nigerian side, led by senior coach, Samson Siasia, approached the encounter with utmost caution in the first ten minutes of the clash and had their eyes on goal, as they created many scoring chances but failed to convert them to goal.
As play progressed, and approaching 15th minute, the rave of the moment in the NPL, Dream Team V’s marksman and Warri Wolves forward, Ekhigo Ehiosun combined well with Heartland of Owerri midfielder, Julius Ubido to get the curtain raiser.
Ehiosun, who got a goal on his debut for the Super Eagles during an international friendly match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos in March, was a thorn in the flesh of the Liberians, as they struggled to curtail his blistering runs and power play from the left flank.
The encounter recorded a total of six cautions, four to the Liberians and two to Nigeria. Liberia will however have their star player, Patrick Wleh to blame for missing several scoring chances, while the Nigerian side relied on their goalkeeper, Dolphins’ Sunday Rotimi and defender Yinka Adedeji to keep Wleh at bay during the encounter watched by an avearge crowd at the Rock city.
The competition continues tomorrow.
By Sunday Akintoye/Abeokuta