Eagles Trounce Tornadoes, Tackle Plateau Saturday

Eagles (B) Capt;Chigozie Agbim

The Super Eagles continued their buildup for next month’s CHAN tourney in South Africa with a 2-0 trouncing of hard-fighting Niger Tornadoes of Minna on Wednesday evening. The team will next tackle Plateau United at the same venue on Saturday morning. The match was played at the mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium.

The cagey encounter was watched by a sparse crowd that included NFF’s Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme as the Minna side gave the Eagles a run for their money. The side now managed by former Flying Eagles and Dream Team Coach, Godwin Koko Uwa, was up to the task forcing the Eagles to their end of the pitch in the first ten minutes of the encounter.

Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi started with a very strong squad with captain, Chigozie Agbim in goal Azubuike Egwueke, Yinka Adedeji, Solomon Kwambe and Ogonna Osuchukw holding sway in the defence. Christian Pyagbara, Rabiu Ali held sway in the midfield while Gbolahan Salami, Barnabas Imenger and hard-working Abubakar Aliyu were the preferred strikers. Imenger got the Eagles on the score sheet 14minutes into the encounter after Abubakar was brought down for a free kick. Ali flicked it in and after Abubakar and Pyagbara shots were blocked, Imenger coolly slotted in for the opener.

Thereafter, it was Eagles all the way with Imenger, Ali, Abubakar and Egwuekwe all coming close but the half ended 1-0. But not without incidence as Agbim, was made to pull off a fantastic save with a tip of his fingers in the 44thminute of the highly robust encounter.

In the second half, the Eagles introduced Sunday Mba, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ejike Uzoenyi, newcomers Obannor Erhune and Ikeleji Bello who surprisingly acquitted themselves well and Eaglets goalie, Sunday Alampasu who was a commanding presence in goal with his control of the defence line.

But the crunchy play of Tornadoes and misses from Mba, Ejike and Rangers’ Christian Obiozor kept the scoreline at the same until in the82minute when Ejike was brought down in the vital area and dimunitive Ikechukwu ‘Small’ Azubuike stepped forward to dispatch the penalty.

Tornadoes Coach, Uwa, said he was impressed with the Eagles display against his side despite the many changes made by the technical crew.” They showed why they are the reigning African champions”, he said. Why Keshi simply said he was impressed by the physical play of the opposition, as that will be the focal point of most teams that will take part at the CHAN tourney.