NIGERIA'S Super Eagles have got their rebuilding programme aimed at ensuring that they qualify for the 2018 World Cup off to a good start with a 1-0 victory over Mali in a friendly game played in France last night.
Played at Rouen, the game was decided by a 77th minute goal from Manchester United teenager Kelechi Iheanacho shortly after he came on for Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi. Fellow substitute Michael Babatunde released Iheanacho for the 19-year old to deliver a cool finish, after a flurry of changes added some verve to a drab evening.
Caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf brought on Babatunde, Umar Aminu and Brown Ideye in place of Moses Simon, Oghenekaro Etebo and Odion Ighalo, before he added Iheanacho in the mix. This paid dividends in the second half, as they lit up what had been a rather drub match and finished it off with a goal.
Nigeria had a very young starting line-up that included former Flying Eagles skipper debutant Musa Mohammed, who was making his debut at rightback. There was not much to choose between the two teams in a half that offered very little.
However, before the half ended, Mohammed came close to opening scores for Nigeria with Watford striker Odion Ighalo also threatening the Mali goal. Mohammed started in the defence alongside Kingsley Madu, Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong while Ogenyi Onazi, who captained the team in the absence of Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa, was in the midfield alongside Shehu Abdullahi, Iwobi and Simon, with Ighalo, and Etebo leading the attack.
Coach Yusuf will be delighted with this win and will now be looking to cement it with another victory in a few days time. Nigeria will play a second friendly on Tuesday May 31 against Luxembourg in Luxembourg City.
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