SEE WHO PLAYED THE WORST, AS MADAGASCAR STUN NIGERIA

Oghenekaro Etebo was the standout player on an afternoon of forgettable performances

An afternoon of woebegone performances by Nigeria saw the Super Eagles succumb to a 0-2 defeat against Madagascar. 

Lailana Nomenjanahary pounced on Leon Balogun’s defensive mistake to round Ikechukwu Ezenwa in the first half, and Carolus Andriamatsinoro finished off the more higher rated Nigerians when his freekickmtook a heavy deflection;off Nigeria substitute Wilfred Ndidi and sailed past Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

There were precious few displays to give credit to and we do our best 

EZENWA 4

Not very much he could do about the first goal, and short of growing an extra couple of inches Same with the second.

Beyond that, he was hardly ever tested although he did have to make a low reaction save from a scramble that followed a corner kick.

AWAZIEM 5

Was given a bit of a bother by Carolus for most of the game but offered the major attacking outlet on the right little. When he did peel forward, barely got any service and delivered only a few crossed balls

AINA 6

One of the few who came away with any sort of credit from the train wreck that was the Alexandria night. Stayed strong in his tackling, and looked a danger helping out in attack. Infact, almost created one good opportunity.

TROOST-EKONG 5

Held his own strongly in defence, but also had his moments of nervous uncertainty on occasion. Lost his man on the second goal, forcing Ndidi into a tackle that led to the fatal freekick.

BALOGUN 5

Guilty in the second phase of the error that led to the opening goal. Almost caused a second with a back pass but from then on, kept his head about him as he tried to shake off the mistake. Beaten in the air from a cornerkick close to the hour that almost led to a third goal but overall, reacted well to making a mistake

OGU 4

Even he will be wondering how quickly he can forget this game. Looked invisible for most of his time on the pitch. Responsible for the first goal with a high risk pass to Balogun under next to no pressure.

ETEBO 7

Another one to emerge out of all this with some of his dignity intact. Ran himself aground tracking players, making tackles, and trying to win second balls. The Stoke man was a major reason this stayed respectable and he kept the midfield going when the other two went AWOL. Man of the Match.

MIKEL OBI 4

A poor display from the skipper. Looked off the pace, misplaced his passes, mistimed tackles and just lost the ball uncharacteristically. In fact, the less said the better.

MUSA 6

The last of the trio who acquitted themselves well on the day. Musa tried to win the game on his own, switched wings, took players on, dropped deep and had at least one chance to score which he ruined by taking one touch too many. 

KALU 4

He may have been passed medically fit to play, but Kalu played like a man with one eye on his medical report. Lacked his usual verve and even his take-ons were tentative and lacking in spark.

IGHALO 4

Bad day at the office for him. Totally shut down by Pascal Razakanantenaina. His first touch deserted him and he never quite found his way back into the game.

SUBS

NDIDI 5

Brought some much-needed energy back into the middle, not to mention assistance for the overworked Etebo. But was guilty of recklessly giving away the free kick that led to the second goal. Almost made amends when he turned inside thebox and let off a left footer, only to see it go straight to the keeper.

IWOBI 4

Added a bit more spark and drive after coming in for Mikel, but by then the damage had been done and there was little he could do to shake the confidence of the Madagascans.

SIMON

Not enough to earn a rating 

WHO WAS THE STAR AS SUPER EAGLES HIT R16?

Kenneth Omeruo (C) got his first international goal and won Man of the Match

Kenneth Omeruo headed just over against Burundi in Nigeria’s opening game, but had much better luck on Wednesday as his glancing header secured all three points for Nigeria in addition to a place in the Africa Nations Cup round of 16.

The Leganes defender stole inside the near post to guide Moses Simon’s corner kick home and hand Nigeria all three points. But to be fair the Super Eagles should have been out of sight bythen. Alex Iwobi dallied on the ball and saw his pocket picked. Odion Ighalo had a chance to play in Ahmed Musa, but went for glory and Musa’s service to Ighalo was twice cut out by a solid Guinea defence. It was just the wrong side of being a rout as Super Eagles players posted big big performances.

So how did they fare?

AKPEYI 5

Barely tested, but looked nervy when he spilled a long range shot in the opening minutes. Then made a goalkick straight to the opposition. The Kaizer Chiefs goalie needs to talk himself out of this artificial funk.

AWAZIEM 7

Gave Francois Kamano very little space to breath, let alone operate. Cost him from an attacking sense, but he did shut down the Guinean

AINA 7 

Not the same man of the match performance he turned in on opening days, but Aina performance is exactly what the doctor ordered. Defensive,y strong, read the play, stepped up to make interceptions and still found an occasion or two to bound forward

BALOGUN 8

In for the rested William Troost-Ekong, Balogun was always one step ahead of Sory Kaba. When Iwobi gave away possession with only 12 minutes gone, it was Balogun who raced back with Kaba to make a timely clearance 

OMERUO 9

Flawless performance. Absolutely flawless performance. A 10/10 would not be out of place. Omeruo did everything, and then some. Even finding time to turn, dribble in the box and lay a square ball before finally capping his afternoon with a first senior international goal.

NDIDI 9

Similarly immense performance from the Leicester man. He won man of the match in the first game and was good for it again in this one. Were it not for Omeruo’s goal, he cou”d well have claimed consecutive honours. Highlight reel was when he twisted and turned away from tw9 defenders, going one way as they went cross eyed, to the other.

ETEBO 8

Pace, power passing. Etebo did it all along with Ndidi. He was the prophylaxis against Keita, and just about any other Guinean player who attempted to breach the blockade he had set up with Ndidi.

IWOBI 7

Not his best day by a long shot. Nightmare opening 15 minutes for him, especially when bisngiveaway almost led to a goal but for Balogun. Then he had a chance from a bpMusa. All to set up Ighalo and dallied until he was dispossessed. Picked up in the second half and was hooked when he tried out late in the game.

MUSA 8

Brought lace and invention into the side. Constant,y threatened to get in behind and create opportunities. Should have had a goal if Ighalo had looked up and squared for him. Set up Ighalo on two occasions but both chances went abegging. Threatened a goa, one end, then tacked all the way back the next minute to pick up a professional foul on the break away Kamano and accepted his yellow card with equanimity

SIMON 8

On for Chukwueze to provide tracking cover for Awaziem, Simon did his job to perfection 

IGHALO 7

Didn’t score on the day but his bruising strength, pace and skilled footwork meant the Burundi defenders could not dare step out of the line.

SUBS

CHUKWUEZE (ON FOR MUSA)

Did not do enough to rate 

Onuachu (ON FOR Ighalo)

Did not do enough to rate 

AINA PUTS ON A SHOW TO TOP RANKINGS

Samuel Chukwueze terrorized the Burundi defence and earns high marks

Odion Ighalo stepped off the bench to shoot Nigeria to a hard-fought 1-0 win over newcomers Burundi to open their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The big striker scored with only his second touch the game after coming on as a substitute for Paul Onuachu, braking the resolve of the debutants.

Despite the slim scoreline, there were some big performances all across the pitch for Nigeria

AKPEYI 7

Started off making a big point blank save from Cedric Amissi and then proceeded to make about four more in just the first half alone. But he was also guilty of some nervous, heart-stopping moments. The first when he miscontrolled a backless, and the second after Nigeria scored when he mishandled the ball. Twice

ABDULLAHI 5

Looked unfit from the get go and was no surprise when he pulled up with something and had to be substituted. Prior to that, he looked steady, comfortable and his usual aggressive self on the right side contributed to his injury

AINA 9 (MOTM)

Monster performance from the fullback, who started at left back only because Jamilu Collins got injured on the eve of the game. Anticipated well, defended strongly, read the play intelligently and attacked aggressively down the left channel. His cheeky reverse pass to Ighalo for the goal was reminiscent of the Austin Okocha  and Ben Iroha combination against Cote d’ivoire at Tunisia 94

OMERUO 8

Strong candidate for man of the match and but for Aina’s assist, could have claimed it. Was immense all game through. Smothered the threat of Fiston Abdul Razak, keeping Burundi’s danger man quiet for most of the game. Put his body on the line to make a crucial block. Almost broke the deadlock when he met Oghenekaro Etebo’s free kick at the far post.

TROOST-EKONG 7

Strong on the ball, won his battles with Abdul Razak and contested strongly in the air and tracked with pace. His partnership with Omeruo looks  toe blossoming nicely

MIKEL OBI 5

Not the best of days for the Super Eagles skipper. He looked off the pace, missed a header that he would normally have put away and looked relieved when his number was called for substitution.

NDIDI 8

Powerful running, strong tackling and and even an offensive foray or two were all part of the Leicester man’s repertoire on the night. 

ETEBO 8

Energetic, quick and incisive. Etebo’s dynamic play covered for the lapses ahead of him. He all but ran himself aground covering space and keeping Gael Bigirimana from running away with midfield control

IWOBI 8

Looked on the fringes of the play in the opening minutes but came into his own once he was moved centrally. His quick, one-touch passing opened up space upfront and helped keep Burundi pinned to their own half for the rest of the game

CHUKWUEZE 7

Looked fearless in his firs senior major tournament start and terrorised the Burundi fullbacks and genre backs no end. One deadly run in the second Hal left two players on their backsides and nursing their waists as the Villareal forward stood over them with an impish smile on his face

ONUACHU 6

Earned his place on the team on the back of that sensational performance and goal against Egypt. But against Burundi, as in subsequent games, has struggled to capture the same sort of form. A lack of service did not help.

SUBSTITUTES 

AWAZIEM 6

On for the injured Abdullahi, gave a steady perforce but one strewn with almost a foul a minute

MUSA 7

Changed the complexion of the game almost as soon as he came on. Ran at fullbacks, played combination balls and set up at least two superb low crosses that could have been turned in.

IGHALO 7

Showed once again that class is permanent. Threatened from the moment he stepped on the pitch and scored almost instantly. Could have scored even earlier but for a heavy first touch which took the ball away from him. But there was to be no mistake for the second.

INVISIBLE PERFORMANCES ALL ROUND AS FLYING EAGLES SHREDDED BY USA

Valentine Ozornwafor (L) and Maxwell Effiom (R) leave the pitch heads bowed after losing to USA/FIFA

A horrifying first half performance and a criminal brain freeze at the start of the second from the Flying Eagles saw them succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the United States on Monday.

Paul Aigbogun’s side looked shorn of skill or talent as they chased shadows for most of the first period. Running around aimlessly as the US ran jolly rings around them.

Sebastian Soto’s brace was just reward for the American endeavour on a day when the country was celebrating their fallen heroes.

For Nigeria, it was the ratings pits on a day they will need to forget very quickly

OLAWALE OREMADE 5

Beaten with an excellent header for the first goal, and went down too early for the second. Made a great save from Time Weah in the first half

ZULKIFILU RABIU 4

Suffered time and again on isolation plays against Tim Weah. Struggled to keep up with the PSG starlet and shares the blame for the ball-watching that led to the first goal.

Saw one skewed shot saved by the goalkeeper in the first half. Came close to scoring with an overhead kick late on.

IKOUWEM UTIN 3

Hero to zero. Pinned to his half for most of the game by the marauding stretched play of Konrad De la Fuente, and didn’t get upfront for the first half hour. Caught for pace when he did get forward

ALIU SALAWUDEEN 6

Dragged out of position time and again by the passing and movement of the Americans but did come up with a few good blocks, including winning some great defensive headers, including one that almost went in as an own goal. Ranged forward late in the game and almost created an opportunity 

VALENTINE OZORNWAFOR 5

Took a hit early on, but doubtful that was a contributor to the overall bad performance. Cut out a few crosses, but clearances were always hurried

KINGSLEY MICHAEL 5

Looked lost in midfield early on as the USA took complete control, passing the ball around him with ease. Grew into the game late in the half, and rocked the past with a vicious effort late just before half time. Much more of a presence in the second half. Won the penalty kick that was called off for offside 

JAMIL MUHAMMAD 4

One of a number of players involved in failing to mark and leading to that first headed goal. A step behind the US passing, and failed to read the play adequately each time

TOM DELE-BASHIRU 2

An ineffectual performance that saw him hooked early. Created little and lost the ball more times than even he would care to remember. A sign of his torrid day was being taken off after half an hour in what could only be described as a mercy substitution for the Manchester City man.

MAXWELL EFFIOM 6

Put in a good running shift, dropping back to cover for and help Rabiu with the Weah threat. Read the play and made interceptions, but was also guilty of the offence of always trying to do too much.

OKECHUKWU OFFIA 5

Dropped back to help with defending the wide threat, but always guilty of trying to do too much rather than look for the simple outlet ball. Little attacking threat

AKOR ADAMS 4

Started in place of Muhamed Tijani. But his link up play was sadly lacking. Always double-teamed by the US centerbacks and had little support. On the occasions when he had breakaway opportunities, the inability to make a quick pass cost his team valuable threats.

Okechukwu Offia pulled an Invisible Man impression

SUBS

ANIEKEME OKON 6

Almost made an instant impact after coming in for Dele-Bashiru with a ferocious volley that the US goalkeeper beat away. Stablized the midfield and helped the Flying eagles establish a foothold in the game. Tempted to give him a 7. Really tempted, but no. 

MUHAMED TIJANI 4

Slightly better performance than his first game. Held up the play, linked up better and created openings for his runners

SUCCESS MAKANJUOLA 4

Like he did in the first game, came on and immediately got involved. Won a tackle high up and put in a good cross

FLYING EAGLES PLAYER RATINGS: SEE WHO CLAIMED MAN OF THE MATCH AS NIGERIA OPEN CAMPAIGN WITH QATAR ROUT

Goalscorer Okechukwu Offia gets a double high five from Jamil Muhammad/FIFA.com

Captain Ikouwem Utin led from the back - and front - as Nigeria’s Flying Eagles opened their FIFA Under 20 World Cup campaign with a 4-0 rout of Qatar.

Maxwell Effiom reacted quickest when Utin’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Shehab Mamdouh. The defender then sliced through four opposing players before cutting back for Okechukwu Offia to guide home on the back foot.

Manchester City youngster Tomiwa Dele-Bashiru extinguished Qatari hopes with a curling ball from a slide rule pass before Aliu Salawudeen put the cherry on the cake with a sweeping effort from a corner kick.

Man of the Match honours go to Utin, but how did the others fare?

OLAWALE OREMADE 7

Big, confident but largely untested. Only really serious threat he had to deal with was a low cross early in the first half and he cut it out - like everything else - with  ease. 

ZULKIFILU RABIU 8

Made two great direct contributions to the win. Peeled off to receive a great cross field ball from Kingsley Michael, then returned the ball with a looping cross to Michael from where Utin drove in to set up the first goal.

And then made to excellent quick fire blocks to deny Qatar’s Yusuf who was through on goal after the Nigeria defence had been sliced open with a one-two on a quick counter attack.

IKOUWEM UTIN 9 

Such a dangerous attacking threat all through the game, it was hard to know if he was playing left back or left wing. Set up the first two goals and provided a constant stacking outlet on the right while keeping his defensive duties.

Man of the Match

ALIU SALAWUDEEN 8

Showed great striker’s awareness to turn and shoot inside the box from a corner kick, but his most telling contributions were of course at his place of primary assignment, cenreback where his combination with Valentine Ozornwafor denied the Qatari much of a sniff at goal

VALENTINE OZORNWAFOR 8

Strong and aware at the back and was always available to quickly cut off any balls to feet, especially to the lone foraging Yusuf. With Utin spending so much time upfront, covered a lot of ground on the left side of defence.

KINGSLEY MICHAEL 8

Very involved on the left side of midfield. Started the move that led to the opening goal with that cross field ball, and constantly tried to link up with Utin to create further opportunities.

Setup Dele-Bashiru for the third goal with a visionary slide rule ball

JAMIL MUHAMMAD 7

Sat deep - when he could - to cover both an adventurous defence and his midfield partner. But like the others, ranged forward on plenty of occasion.

TOM DELE-BASHIRU 8

Neat and tidy with excellent ball-playing skills. Dele-Bashiru was the engine that kept the team’s movement going in midfield. Always available for a pass and made the right decisions each time. Great run to receive the pass for his goal, polished touch to keep it in front of him and an even better finish with the outside of his foot. Stung the goalkeeper with a shot late on

MAXWELL EFFIOM 8

Great awareness and reaction to open the scoring from the saved shot. Never stopped running and taking life uncomfortable for the Qatari defence.

OKECHUKWU OFFIA 8

Like Effiom, showed quick reflexes to get a touch on Utin’s cutback and dried it past the goalkeeper for the second goal. Could have had a second goal after interception a pass but rushed his shot with time and space

MUHAMED TIJANI 6

Put a lot of effort into running, but was mostly motion without real movement. Dropped deep to receive passes, and ended up getting lost in the crowd. No surprise he was hooked with 20 to go.

SUBS

AKOR ADAMS 7

Brought a much stronger presence into the central striking position, and it was his cushioned header into the box from a corner kick that Salawudeen swept in for the fourth goal. Offered good link up play with Effiom

NATHAN OFOBORH

Not quite the same smooth effect as Dele-Bashiru whom he replaced, but provided stability as the Flying Eagles closed out the win. Even had time to set Adams away with a long raking ball that needed a desperate clearance for a cornerkick

SUCCESS MAKANJUOLA 6

Even coming on with just under 10 minutes to go, Makanjuola was always looking to take over the game and had an excellent chance to get on he scoresheet that he bent into oblivion