By MTNFootball.com Thursday Dec 29, 07:09 +0200
Match winner Uche Kalu
Home-based Super Eagles earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Pro League Division One side Ranch Bees of Kaduna at the Abuja National Stadium Wednesday.
The Eagles match winner came in the first half when Ikechukwu Ibenegbu’s free kick was helped home by Uche Kalu, the Enyimba striker who is close to joining Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca.
Eagles coach Stephen Keshi said it was a confidence-building exercise and he hoped to have many more of such games as he raises a formidable home-based squad.
He praised the high standard of the game and promised that a more formidable side will be the next team that the Eagles will play.
Bees coach and former international Ishaya Jatau back Stephen Keshi to make a success of his time as Eagles coach.
“Stephen Keshi is one of the best players Nigeria has ever produced and he led us to a Nations Cup victory, Daniel Amokachi is also in that class, same for Ike Shorunmu and Sylvanus Okpala. We may have got it right this time with the calibre of coaches we have but I will plead with Nigerians to be a little bit patient with them, because they are building a new team,” Jatau said.
He recalled that between 1989 and 1994, the national team began a search for new players and the result was the fact that the country had by 1994, one of the greatest national teams in the world.
“Keshi has started that now and we must give him a chance to give us a new team.”
As expected, goalkeeper and captain of the side Chigozie Agbim, started the game alongside Azubuike Egwueke, Papa Idris in the central defence with Gabriel Reuben and Godfrey Oboabona as defensive midfielders.
Ibenegbu and Izu Azuka were the offensive midfielders, while Uche Kalu, Sunday Mba, Ajani Ibrahim and Ejike Uzoenyi were in attack.
As always, the national team started the brighter of the two sides, but were shy in front of goal. But in the 16th minute, Ajani’s dangerous incursion deep into the danger zone was cut short by a malicious challenge from Bees player Usman Mohammed, for a free kick to the Eagles.
Ranch Bees caused some problems for the national team but they were easily curtailed by the defence line.
The second half was no better, with the introduction of Paul Godwin in goal, Rabiu Ali, Kabir Musa, Kola Anubi, while Papa Idris was retained.
Chance after chance that fell to the Eagles were missed with Uzoenyi, who returned later, and youth corp member Stephen Morah showing relentless energy throughout the encounter.
But Ranch Bees goalkeeper Badnmus Kassim was impressive in goal, while skipper Onyebuchi James was commanding in his defensive midfield role.
The national team almost paid for their wastefulness in front of goal, when a late effort by Nasiru Shehu missed target narrowly with goalkeeper Paul Godwin well beaten.
Meanwhile, some players have been released by the Eagles for the Super Cup between league champions Dolphin and Federation Cup winners Heartland in Kaduna.
The players are Ibenegbu for Heartland and Victor Michael, who features for Dolphin.
Goalkeepers Moses Ocheje and Paul Godwin were also released for personal reasons.