Jordan 2:2 Nigeria - Retrospective Reflection

Even in a 2:2 draw against a world cup bound average team, the Super Eagles still played an excitingly compelling brand of football.

I guess playing a new centre back pairing plus the 3rd and 4th choice goalkeepers in the course of the game proved detrimental. So much for radically overhauling the team!

Nigeria actually took time to get into the swing of the game with Jordan having a bit more bite offensively. After their first goal, a well worked free kick routine at that, the Super Eagles eventually work up from their earlier slumber to start exerting themselves more.

It paid off: 1 controversially cancelled goal, 1 incontrovertible goal in quick succession for the West Africans.

Newbie defender Fernandez made it 2:1 with a composed finish before our naive defence caved again for Jordan’s equaliser.

Kudos to both teams who for playing with a competitive spirit.

The goals we conceded aside, I thought newbies played well. With majority of our regulars absent, I think it was slightly risky of Chelle for playing an offensive strategy with centre defenders who barely know eachother. It showed as we left gaps at the back for Jordan to exploit, and exploit they did.

That said, promising signs are there for me that this team is going in the right direction.

I hope Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo’s nationality switch from England has concluded by the next international window as we still need more quality in that department.