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| Chigozie Agbim |
Super Eagles stand in coach, Daniel Amokachi says he is far from impressed with the performance of the team despite scoring five times in the friendly match.
The Super Eagles thrashed NYSC FC 5-2 in a practice match in Abuja on Monday but Amokachi said after the game that he was not impressed by the performance of his wards as they showed signs of heaviness, adding that more work needed to be done before the team travels out later this week.
“If you concede such an early goal against an experienced side like Cote D’ Ivoire you will be in trouble because you will have to chase the game all day,” Amokachi said.
The NYSC side actually drew the first blood in only the second minute of the match when number 10 shirted Nwowu Ikenna’s sleek dribbles in the Eagles vital area ended on the legs of teammate, Omefe Ifeanyi, who slotted home from close range.
The goal jolted the national team to reality and four minutes later hotshot, Mfon Udoh equalized after Gambo Mohammed’s beautiful run from the right fell to him.
But the NYSC team will not let go, as they again took the lead through Eugene Utom in the 6th minute after another defensive mix-up that forced Dan Amokachi to pull out experienced defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, who was apparently the culprit of the gaps noticed in the backline.
The Super Eagles seem to wake up after that change with Nelson Ogbonna curtailing the excesses of the NYSC strikers, while teen sensation, Kingsley Sokari equalized in the 18th minute with a neatly struck goal.
Sokari added his second of the day in the 21st minute after a neat interchange of passes with in-form Heartland of Owerri winger, Stanley Dimgba.
Two minutes to the end of the first half, Mfon Udoh got also his second of the morning, after Gambo had done the hard part of the job. The first half thus ended 4-2.
In the second half, Amokachi introduced Bright Esieme, Christian Obiozor, Emem Eduok, Gbolahan Salami and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, who took over from Daniel Akpeyi.
They pressed for more goals but were a but wasteful in front of goal.
However, Eduok would not allow the half end without goals as one his fine runs which caused trouble for the NYSC side was finally converted by Christian Osas Ighodalo, for the fifth and last goal of the match. This was in the 85th minute.