NIGERIA’s
Flying Eagles lost their second game in the Cape Town International
Challenge Sunday when they fell by the odd goal to Argentina, but they
could still sneak into the semi-finals of this competition.
On
Tuesday, they would need to beat hosts South Africa by at least 2-0 and
hope that Argentina do them a big favour by beating Ghana same time.
Argentina lead the group on six points from two matches, while South Africa and Ghana both have three points each.
Nigeria are without a point.
“It
wasn’t a bad game, but I expected my players to have lifted their game
after our loss to Ghana, rather they panicked and were mostly in a
hurry,” said coach John Obuh
“All the same, this has given me a better assessment of the team.”
The Flying Eagles are the defending champions of this invitational tournament having won the inaugural edition two years ago.
However,
they have found the going rather tough this time around after they lost
3-2 in their opening Group A match against arch-rivals Ghana and then
fell Sunday to five-time world champions Argentina.
On
Sunday at the 2010 World Cup stadium, the Cape Town Stadium, they barely
held out against the South Americans until the 42nd minute before
Franco Fragapane gave them the lead when he exploited an opening in the
Nigerian defence to slot home past an exposed goalkeeper Samuel Okani.
The
Flying Eagles failed to create any clear-cut chance at goal and were
even forced to pull out centre-forward Alhaji Gero, who was largely
ineffective, by the 37th minute for Sikiru Alimi.
Kaduna
United central defender Ikechukwu Okorie was the pillar of the Flying
Eagles back four and he and later Kingsley Patrick had to head away
goal-bound shots on the goal line.
Argentina,
on the other hand, enjoyed the ball possession and had at least three
chances they have put away to underline their superiority.
The
game was marred by countless stoppages as both teams fought out a
physical combat in which at least three Argentina players were booked.
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