ETEBO EXCELS, IGHALO LEADS AS NIGERIA DESPATCH CAMEROON

Oghenekaro Etebo was again in excellent form as the Super Eagles rallied from surrendering an early lead to pull an epic comeback win over Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 on Saturday in Alexandria.

Odiomn Ighalo’s brace puts him on the board for high marks, but who else stood up to be counted on a night when heart was needed and heart was exactly what was on show?

AKPEYI 6

It is hard to put the blame at his doorstep for any of the two goals, especially the first. But we have been spoiled so rotten by the brilliance of Vincent Enyeama’s shot-stopping skills, that we expect our goalkeepers to triumph over strikers in one v ones. That said, he came up big when it mattered at the point when Cameroon were doing their best to batter down the door

AWAZIEM 7

His early going throw caused problems for Cameroon but he had a time of it trying to keep up with the ferocious pace of the duo of Christian Bassogog and Clinton N’Jie, who swapped positions at will and almost always seemed to be able to fly past him. Beaten by Bassogog to cross for Cameroon’s first goal. But he stuck to his task and by the latter stages of the game, he had found their number and his cross led to Ighalo’s second goal

AINA 6

After the highs of three great games, I guess he was due one not so great game. Struggled with his timing against the same duo for much of the first half and was outstripped an d swatted off the ball by N’Jie for the second goal. He had got them sussed out by the second half.

TROOST-EKONG 7

One of those days for him. Defended well overall, but his hurried clearances away - especially in the second half - always seemed to end up with the opposition, inviting further pressure. Won all his aerial battles and led from the back as the Super Eagles defended set pieces with relative ease

OMERUO 8

Immense performance from the centreback, again showing why his absence was such a miss against Madagascar. Had a few anxious moments, but overall, there are few adjectives to describe how immense his performance was. It simply had everything

NDIDI 8

A disciplined energetic performance from the Leicester man. His ability to read the play, be at the right place at the right time to close down passing lane and hunt down Eric Choupo-Moting helped the Eagles control the game for long periods

ETEBO 9

It is a high bar indeed to a perfect 10, but all Etebo needed here was to get a goal and he would have had it. A dynamo in midfield, his boundless energy, fearless tackling and ability to interrupt play is what kept the Super Eagles on the front foot.

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IWOBI 8

Started by launching a long ball to Awaziem straight from kickoff that caused all manner of chaos in the Cameroon area and forced a cornerkick. Then he went almost invisible before bursting to life in the second part o the game and finishing off with the winning goal.

SIMON 7

Took on players, caused problems with his pace and running and dropped back to help Awaziem with defending. Delivered the ball to Ighalo for the first goal.

MUSA 8

Endless running and hard work from the stand in captain. Involved in all three Nigeria goals. Won the free kick for the first goal, cushioned the ball with his chest to Ighalo for the second and intercepted the ball to find Ighalo for the set up to Iwobi for the winner. 

IGHALO 9

No arguing with two goals and one assist. It could even have been a hat trick but for a brilliant save from Onana when the Nigeria forward turned and shot from close range.

Hard to add anything to this performance. A true striker’s display, not to mention his constant attempts to ginger his teammates even before kickoff.

SUBS

CHUKWUEZE 6

On for Simon with an hour gone, his willingness to run, take players on and let fly from distance left the Cameroonians petrified and almost led too an Ighalo goal

ONUACHU 5

His brief was to keep the Cameroon defenders busy, win headers in both boxes and help see out the win. He lost the ball too many times, unfortunately.

BALOGUN 

Not enough time for a rating

Enyeama crisis and DRC loss mask improvements in makeshift Super Eagles

Oliseh's Super Eagles showed improvement despite loss to DRC

Immediately after the Super Eagles 0-2 loss to Congo DR in the first of their Belgium Tour, I posted on Twitter that they were much improved over the last two games.

Expectedly, the flak came swift and sure. Many even wondered if it was the same game they saw. Yes folks, it was the exact same.

In the first two games, the team struggled with their passing, combinations failed to come off and efforts at goal were few. This, despite scoring twice against Niger.

Last Thursday however, the passing improved. The team dominated against a difficult opponent and fashioned good looks at the opponent's goal that they were either unlucky not to put away, or saved by a goalkeeper in good form on the night.

There's an old saying that "It is never too early to start winning, but it is always too early to start losing."

Going behind early knocked some of the stuffing out of the Eagles. But they didn't buckle and crumble.

To start with, the heart had been ripped out of the back four. Stalwart Kenneth Omeruo had pulled out of the squad with injury. Godfrey Oboabona, who could have deputised, was unavailable. 

Elderson Echiejile, the mist experienced of the back four, was returning for the first time in over a year. Specialist right back Leon Balogun was drafted to centre back along with William Troost-Ekong who was making only his fourth appearance for Nigeria.

Carl Ikeme in goal is still coming to grips with international football and is still far from having the self assurance to intimidate his own defenders.

Both Congo goals came from the right channel where the inexperienced Shehu Abdullahi combined with the played out of position Balogun.

Congo had only four attempts at the Nigeria goal. Two of those went in. By the time the team settled into some sort of rhythm, the Congolese had barely anywhere to go.

There were outstanding performances from Abdullahi (despite the goals), and Echiejile.

John Mikel Obi also looked like he had found a new lease of life, although the feeling is that he was tactically all over the shop.

With Rabiu Ibrahim in the side, the shape of the team had Mikel and Onazi as the twin pivots.

Instead, Mikel was popping up all over, leaving Onazi alone with the holding responsibilities.

The major issue however, was in the final third. For all his inadvertent good work, Mikel's shooting was criminally deficient. It either lacked venom, or direction. Where it had power, it had no direction. Where it had direction, it lacked power. Like both were working in inverse proportion.

Considering how he worked himself impressively into those advanced positions, it is an area of his game he needs to sort out.

Two things that must improve subsequently, starting with Cameroon on Sunday are improved decision-making among the forward three and better, high temp pressing.

Against Congo they looked listless in possession and languid in pressing. 

Trying to blame it on the Enyeama/Oliseh crisis cuts no ice. They looked just about the same in previous games.

Oliseh will most likely rejig his back four. Efe Ambrose should come in at central defence, with Balogun returning to his right back berth.

Rabiu Ibrahim will have another crack at proving his worth in midfield along with Mikel and Onazi.

Upfront, there should be at least one change. Emenike and Ighalo didn't quite work in a 4-3-3. So one would make way for a more natural wide player. Expect to see Moses Simon in.

PROJECTED LINE UP

Ikeme, Balogun, Ambrose, Troost-Ekong, Echiejile; Mikel, Onazi, Rabiu; Musa, Emenike, Simon