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Match Type
Friendly game

Venue
Kaduna Township Stadium, Kaduna, Nigeria

Coach
Stephen Keshi

Match Line Up
1 Vincent ENYEAMA (Goal Keeper)
Efe AMBROSE
2 Joseph YOBO (Captain)
3 Taye TAIWO
Dele ADELEYE
20 Dickson ETUHU
6 Fegor OGUDE
4 Joel OBI
12 Kalu UCHE
18 Ahmed MUSA
9 Emmanuel EMENIKE

Substitute Bench
Nosa IGIEBOR
Jude ANEKE
Ugo UKAH
Chibuzor OKONKWO
Austin EJIDE (Goal Keeper)
15 Ikechukwu UCHE

Substitutions
Nosa IGIEBOR for Kalu UCHE 80
Jude ANEKE for Emmanuel EMENIKE 74
Ugo UKAH for Dele ADELEYE 57
Chibuzor OKONKWO for Dickson ETUHU 54
Austin EJIDE for Vincent ENYEAMA 46
15 Ikechukwu UCHE for Fegor OGUDE 27

Goals
Kalu UCHE 9
Ikechukwu UCHE 90

Nigeria’s Super Eagles faced a stern examination from Africa Cup of Nations finalists Zambia, but came through with a 2-0 victory.

Goals from the Uche brothers Kalu and Ike sealed a resolute win for Stephen Keshi, on a day when Captain Joseph Yobo equaled Nigeria’s appearance record.

Yobo exhibited a commanding Man of the Match performance on the day.

The first goal was all about Ahmed Musa’s pace. In the ninth minute, Taye Taiwo’s free-kick came off the wall, he found Fegor Ogude, who slipped Musa through.

Musa’s pace got him in behind, and his cutback found Kalu Uche, and it was in.

Chipolopolo finished the half stronger, especially in midfield.

On 74 minutes NPL top scorer Jude Aneke came on for Emmanuel Emenike for his first cap.

Ike Uche scored the second with a screamer on 90 minutes, and completed a nervy but resolute win from the Super Eagles.

Zambia XI: K Mweene, F Kasonde, S Sunzu, N Mulenga, J Musonda, C Katongo, W Njobvu, F Katongo, C Mbesuma, E Mayuka, R Kalaba

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Match Type
Friendly game

Venue
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City, Nigeria

Coach
Stephen Keshi

Match Line Up
1 Vincent ENYEAMA (Goal Keeper)
5 Efe AMBROSE
13 Yussuf AYILA
2 Joseph YOBO (Captain)
3 Taye TAIWO
6 Fegor OGUDE
4 Joel OBI
20 Dickson ETUHU
12 Kalu UCHE
17 Ekigho EHIOSUN
15 Ikechukwu UCHE

Substitute Bench
16 Austin EJIDE (Goal Keeper)
7 Chinedu OBASI
8 Brown IDEYE
9 Emmanuel EMENIKE
10 Jude ANEKE
11 Nosa IGIEBOR
14 Dele ADELEYE
18 Ahmed MUSA
19 Gege SORIOLA
21 Elderson ECHIEJILE
22 Ugo UKAH

Substitutions
Elderson ECHIEJILE for Taye TAIWO
Chinedu OBASI for Ekigho EHIOSUN
Austin EJIDE for Vincent ENYEAMA
Ahmed MUSA for Ikechukwu UCHE
Brown IDEYE for Kalu UCHE
Nosa IGIEBOR for Joel OBI

Nigeria managed a goalless draw against Botswana in a friendly international in Benin City on Saturday evening in what was Coach Stephen Keshi’s first game in charge.

An enthusiastic crowd turned up to cheer the Super Eagles to victory, but they were left disappointed as the resolute, well coordinated Zebras held their own in defence to ward off the hosts in attack.

The Eagles found it hard to break down the Zebras with shots blocked by young goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe even as the Nigerians retained most of the possession throughout the game.

Ike Uche, Joel Obi and Fegor Ogude all saw their shots kept out by Dambe as rain poured down on the first half.

The eager fans then took to singing and asking for a goal in the second half that saw a series of changes made by both coaches.

Substitutes Brown Ideye, Chinedu Obasi and Ahmed Musa had opportunities saved as the game wore to a close.

Dickson Etuhu was voted the Most Valuable Player.

Nigeria will next play Zambia on November 15 in Kaduna as they seek to rebuild after missing out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Match Type
Friendly game

Venue
Vicarage Stadium, Watford, London

Coach
Samson Siasia

Match Line Up
1 Austin EJIDE (Goal Keeper)
5 Efe AMBROSE
3 Taye TAIWO
2 Joseph YOBO (Captain)
13 Dele ADELEYE
4 Joel OBI
6 Fegor OGUDE
17 Ahmed MUSA
18 Victor Obinna NSOFOR
15 Ikechukwu UCHE
8 Brown IDEYE

Substitute Bench
Chigozie AGBIM (Goal Keeper)
Emmanuel EMENIKE
21 Elderson ECHIEJILE
10 John Obi MIKEL
7 Chinedu OBASI
16 Kalu UCHE
Gege SORIOLA
Peter UTAKA
Emmanuel EKPO
Ekigho EHIOSUN

Substitutions
Kalu UCHE for Ahmed MUSA 60
John Obi MIKEL for Joel OBI 67
Emmanuel EMENIKE for Brown IDEYE 74
Chinedu OBASI for Victor Obinna NSOFOR 80
Peter UTAKA for Ikechukwu UCHE 85

In-form Ghana were held to a 0-0 draw by a de-spirited Nigeria on Tuesday night in an international friendly played at the Vicarage Road Stadium.

The Super Eagles were on a reputation-saving mission after fluffing their lines to miss out on qualifying to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals and they responded to the task.

Head coach Samson Siasia was under pressure after the weekend’s debacle and he also achieved the result that can convince the Nigeria Football Federation technical team.

Ghana enjoyed more of the ball especially in the first part of the first half but could not turn their possession into penetration. Nigeria fought back and looked more dangerous going forward as Ike Uche and Brown Ideye threatened.

Both sides made use of their bench to make wholesale substitutions and the match should have produced some goals but ended goalless.

Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic and Nigeria coach Samson Siasia were both pleased with their teams’ performance.

Stevanovic says he will take it one step at a time on the way to the 2012 Nations Cup, while Siasia says he is proud of his team as one for the future.

Ghana XI: Adam Kwarasey, John Paintsil, John Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, Masahudu Alhassan – Anthony Annan, Mohammed Abu – Albert Adomah, Kwadwo Asamoah, Quincy Owusu Abeyie – Prince Tagoe

Substitutes: Daniel Agyei, Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, Derek Boateng, Lee Addy, Dominic Adiyiah, Samuel Inkoom, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.

Match Type
Friendly game

Venue
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Coach
Samson Siasia

Match Line Up
16 Dele AIYENUGBA (Goal Keeper)
6 Chibuzor OKONKWO
2 Dele ADELEYE
5 Efe AMBROSE
3 Elderson ECHIEJILE
14 Fegor OGUDE
10 John Obi MIKEL (Captain)
4 Joel OBI
18 Victor Obinna NSOFOR
20 Solomon OKORONKWO
11 Brown IDEYE

Substitute Bench
7 Chinedu OBASI
12 Ahmed MUSA
15 Ikechukwu UCHE
Emmanuel EKPO
Peter UTAKA

Substitutions
Chinedu OBASI for Solomon OKORONKWO 45
Ahmed MUSA for Joel OBI 45
Ikechukwu UCHE for Victor Obinna NSOFOR 66
Emmanuel EKPO for John Obi MIKEL 70
Peter UTAKA for Brown IDEYE 83

Goals
Higuaín 24
Di María 27
Chinedu OBASI 47
Elderson ECHIEJILE 65 (Own Goal)

Two-time world champions Argentina defeated Nigeria 3-1 to get their pound of flesh after they lost 4-1 to the Super Eagles in Abuja in June.

Argentina enjoyed the possession particularly in the first 45 minutes with start attraction Lionel Messi very central in their revenge win.

He created two of his team’s goals, while Elderson Echiejile put the ball through his own net for the South Americans third goal.

The Super Eagles lacked organisation in the midfield and this allowed Argentina to pile pressure directly on a very experimental back four of Elderson Echiejile, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Efe Ambrose and Dele Adeleye.

Nigeria, who were missing skipper Joseph Yobo and first choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, were led by Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi.

Argentina controlled things from the first whistle inside a packed Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as Nigeria preferred to sit back and defend inside their own area.

World Footballer of the Year Messi enjoyed his free role as he was always behind all the good things by Argentina.

In the 24th minute, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain controlled a first-time pass by Messi right inside the box before he fired home the opening goal in this rematch.

Two minutes later, Messi robbed Mikel of the ball in the middle of the pitch, before he ghosted past four Nigerian markers. His shot was slowed down by a diving goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba only for Angel di Maria to easily tap home the rebound for the second goal.

Coach Samson Siasia threw in Ahmed Musa and Chinedu Obasi into the fray for the restart and Nigeria were promptly rewarded three minutes after the break when Obasi fired home off a Mikel cross from the left.

Nigeria went on the back foot boosted by this goal. They were more comfortable on the ball and passed the ball among themselves with confidence.

However, Argentina fought back soon after to get a lucky third goal in the 66th minute.

It was an own goal by Elderson Echiejile just when it seemed the Eagles defence had shut out Higuain inside the box, the ball came off the body of the Israel-based central defender to give the South Americans a two-goal cushion.

US-based playmaker Emmanuel Ekpo finally made his long-awaited Eagles debut as Nigeria now shift attention to their must-win nations Cup qualifier at home to Guinea next month.

Argentina XI: S. Romero, N. Burdisso, M. Demichelis, N. Otamendi, J. Mascherano, M. Rojo , P. Zabaleta, J. Sosa, Á. Di María, G. Higuaín, L. Messi

Subs: S. Agüero, E. Banega, F. Fernández, R. Álvarez, J. Gutiérrez

Match Type
Friendly game

Venue
Abuja National Stadium, Nigeria

Coach
Samson Siasia

Match Line Up
1 Vincent ENYEAMA (Goal Keeper)
2 Joseph YOBO (Captain)
3 Taye TAIWO
5 Efe AMBROSE
6 Chibuzor OKONKWO
10 John Obi MIKEL
4 Joel OBI
12 Kalu UCHE
15 Ikechukwu UCHE
18 Victor Obinna NSOFOR
9 Victor ANICHEBE

Substitute Bench
16 Dele ADELEYE (Goal Keeper)
13 Yussuf AYILA
17 Fegor OGUDE
7 Ahmed MUSA
8 Peter UTAKA
11 Emmanuel EMENIKE

Substitutions
Emmanuel EMENIKE for Victor ANICHEBE 44
Dele ADELEYE for Vincent ENYEAMA 46
Ahmed MUSA for Kalu UCHE 46
Yussuf AYILA for Chibuzor OKONKWO 67
Fegor OGUDE for Joel OBI 72
Peter UTAKA for Victor Obinna NSOFOR 80

Goals
Ikechukwu UCHE 9
Victor Obinna NSOFOR 26 (Penalty)
Ikechukwu UCHE 39
Emmanuel EMENIKE 51
Mauro BOSELLI 90 (Penalty)

Nigeria recording one of their most memorable wins ever following a 4-1 drubbing of Argentina at the National Stadium in Abuja on Wednesday evening.

The visitors paid heavily for fielding an experimental side, with Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero all absent.

A ‘B’ side trying to force their way into Argentina coach Sergio Batista’s Copa America squad were soundly beaten.

Ikechukwu Uche (2), Obinna Nsofor and Emmanuel Emenike netted for the hosts before Mauro Boselli’s late penalty.

Nigeria coach Samson Siasia and his men will now travel to Ethiopia for Sunday’s Group B qualifier in buoyant mood.

“Let’s not take anything away from the importance of this win,” Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo said afterwards.

The absence of so many big names had initially provoked anger among some Nigerian fans but this may now be overlooked given the manner of victory.

“We knew Argentina had good players and we knew we had to score early to have any chance,” said Uche. “This is a big morale booster for us.”

Uche grabbed his first early on as his shot deflected over the Argentina goalkeeper.

Victor Obinna converted a hotly-contested penalty just before the half-hour before Uche scored the third in the 40th minute, heading home at the back post after a perfect cross from Taye Taiwo.

To the delight of the 30,000 fans who watched inside the Abuja National Stadium, Siasia’s men then took a four-goal lead.

Substitute Emmanuel Emenike, who had minutes earlier missed in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, continued the fairytale on 53 minutes. Again the static Argentina defence was caught out, allowing Emenike to run onto a long ball and calmly chip the goalie for his first Super Eagles goal.

Deep into injury time, Mauro Boselli grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors, who performed well below par.
Nigeria could literally have had at least another three goals, but none the less they will settle for the morale-boosting 4-1 win ahead of the more important African Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia. While Argentina will host the Copa America, South American continental championships, from 01-24 July.

Argentina Line Up: 1-Adrian Gabbarini; 2-Ezequiel Garay (13-Mateo Musacchio, 65), 3-Emiliano Insua 4-Pablo Zabaleta, 6-Federico Fazio; 5-Mario Bolatti, 8-Fernando Belluschi (15-Nicolas Bertolo, 62), 14-Alberto Costa (20-Alejandro Cabral, 58), 10-Nicolas Gaitan; 9-Mauro Boselli, 18-Diego Perotti (11-Franco Jara, 70).

Referee: Ibrahim Chaibou (Niger)

Match Type
Friendly game

Venue
Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria

Coach
Samson Siasia

Match Line Up
Dele AIYENUGBA (Goal Keeper)
Chibuzor OKONKWO
2 Joseph YOBO (Captain)
Michael ODIBE
3 Taye TAIWO
Femi AJILORE
4 Joel OBI
Ahmed MUSA
Peter UTAKA
11 Osaze ODEMWINGIE
Emmanuel EMENIKE

Substitute Bench
Bassey AKPAN (Goal Keeper)
12 Ekigho EHIOSUN
Julius UBIDO
Olubayo ADEFEMI
Abdulwasiu SOWEMIMO
Osas OKORO

Substitutions
Bassey AKPAN for Dele AIYENUGBA
Ekigho EHIOSUN for Emmanuel EMENIKE 39
Julius UBIDO for Joel OBI 64
Olubayo ADEFEMI for Chibuzor OKONKWO 66
Abdulwasiu SOWEMIMO for Michael ODIBE 82
Osas OKORO for Osaze ODEMWINGIE 84

Goals
Taye TAIWO 15 (Penalty)
Ekigho EHIOSUN 44
Mohammed KABIA 90

He did look nervy in the end, and that image of him biting his fingernails will take while to leave the memory, but Samson Siasia got off to a win in his first match as Super Eagles coach, claiming a 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone in Lagos.

Taye Taiwo’s first half penalty and Ekigho Ehiosun’s toe-poke in the second had the Super Eagles flying, but their spirits were deflated by a late Sierra Leone goal two minutes from time.

Siasia has spent the weeks since his appointment promising attacking football, and on that score he delivered. Every chance the Eagles got, they attacked the Leone Stars down the wide areas. Ahmed Musa, who broke the Nigerian domestic league goal scoring record last term, was proving particularly troublesome down the right channel with his pace and guile.

Peter Utaka was not quite as effective on the other flank, but he is a central striker.

It was the visitors who got the first opportunity, with barely three minutes played when Mohammed Bangoura’s cross cum shot forced Dele Ayenugba into a fingertip save. But from then on, it was Nigeria.

Utaka was denied a penalty when clean through on goal, but was awarded one for a trip that looked dodgy. Taye Taiwo had no complaints as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to put the Eagles ahead.

Emmanuel Emenike, one of three debutants on the night, missed a fine chance to double the advantage when he muscled his way in from the left flank and just failed to put the ball under the keeper.

His day was ended when he collided with an opponent in midfield and had to be stretchered off. It was his replacement, domestic league top scorer Ekigho Ehiosun, who doubled Nigeria’s advantage.
Fed from a short corner routine between Osaze Odemwingie and Joel Obi, Ehiosun arrived with a poacher’s instinct to get a toe to Obi’s excellent delivery.

Odemwingie had the ball in the net for 3-0, but the flag denied him. Replays showed the assistant referee was wrong.

And the decision was to prove costly, when the visitors found space behind substitute Adefemi Olubayo and ripped a shot past Aiyenugba. Cue boos from the Lagos crowd.

But the Eagles rallied, and towards the end, they had won back the support of their fans. There is still a long road to travel, but now the hard work has started for Siasia.

Sierra Leone Line up: John Trye, Gibrilla Fofanah (Ayo King Alpha Lansana), Salieu Kamara, Salifu Samura, Desmond Wellington, David Simbo (Mohamed Mansaray), Alusine Kamara, Julius Woobay, Sheriff Suma, Ibrahim Bangura (Mohamed Kabia), Mohamed Kallon
(Sam Obi Metzer Junior),