Iheanacho earns Nigeria draw in Corsica
 |
|
|
|
Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho helped
Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw with Corsica in a practice game at the Stade
Francois Coty on Friday night.
Jean-Jacques Mandrichi put the Corsicans in front in the half before Iheanacho levelled matters late in the game from the spot.
Moses, Ogu to miss Corsica friendly
‘We won’t fail Corsica test’
Baxter unveils loaded squad for Eagles
Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr, without some of his influential players, handed new recruits Tyronne Ebuehi, Henry Onyekuru and Ibrahim Alhassan starting places.
The Corsican startlist
had mostly players from different divisions of the French league, such as Julian Palmieri of Lille, Louis Poggi of Ajaccio, Yannick Cahuza of SC Bastia, Mandrichi of Cannes, Jean-Francois Grimaldi and France Massoni, both of CA Bastia
The host team goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau and midfielder Gary Coulibaly, also in the Corsica startlist, currently play outside of France.
The game had barely reached 10 minutes when a penalty was awarded against the Nigerians. ADO Den Haag defender Ebuehi was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box by the referee.
Mandrichi made no mistake in dispatching the spot kick past Nigeria goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
KAS Eupen forward Onyekuru should have levelled matters immediately after he was picked out by Ahmed Musa's pass. The striker simply could not apply the needed finish with only the Corsica goalkeeper Penneteau to beat.
Nigeria's Super Eagles went on to dominate the encounter for longer spells in the first half, with Musa and Alhassan missing good scoring chances.
Rohr gave another newly invited player and Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorer Stephen Odey the chance to feature. Odey came on for Alhassan.
Odey nearly proved to be an inspired substitution on the hour mark, but Penneteau's strong hands kept out his attempt.
Sikiru Olatunbosun, Odey's teammate at MFM FC, also joined the fray with Musa making way for him. The winger immediately made his presence felt by combining with Oghenekaro Etebo to set up Iheanacho, whose effort was saved by the Corsica goalkeeper.
Penneteau could not deny Nigeria an 80th-minute equaliser from the spot courtesy of Iheanacho, after Etebo was upended in the box.
Nigeria will next face Togo in an international friendly in Paris on 1 June, as they continue their preparations for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with South Africa.
Jean-Jacques Mandrichi put the Corsicans in front in the half before Iheanacho levelled matters late in the game from the spot.
Moses, Ogu to miss Corsica friendly
‘We won’t fail Corsica test’
Baxter unveils loaded squad for Eagles
Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr, without some of his influential players, handed new recruits Tyronne Ebuehi, Henry Onyekuru and Ibrahim Alhassan starting places.
The Corsican startlist
had mostly players from different divisions of the French league, such as Julian Palmieri of Lille, Louis Poggi of Ajaccio, Yannick Cahuza of SC Bastia, Mandrichi of Cannes, Jean-Francois Grimaldi and France Massoni, both of CA Bastia
The host team goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau and midfielder Gary Coulibaly, also in the Corsica startlist, currently play outside of France.
The game had barely reached 10 minutes when a penalty was awarded against the Nigerians. ADO Den Haag defender Ebuehi was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box by the referee.
Mandrichi made no mistake in dispatching the spot kick past Nigeria goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
KAS Eupen forward Onyekuru should have levelled matters immediately after he was picked out by Ahmed Musa's pass. The striker simply could not apply the needed finish with only the Corsica goalkeeper Penneteau to beat.
Nigeria's Super Eagles went on to dominate the encounter for longer spells in the first half, with Musa and Alhassan missing good scoring chances.
Rohr gave another newly invited player and Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorer Stephen Odey the chance to feature. Odey came on for Alhassan.
Odey nearly proved to be an inspired substitution on the hour mark, but Penneteau's strong hands kept out his attempt.
Sikiru Olatunbosun, Odey's teammate at MFM FC, also joined the fray with Musa making way for him. The winger immediately made his presence felt by combining with Oghenekaro Etebo to set up Iheanacho, whose effort was saved by the Corsica goalkeeper.
Penneteau could not deny Nigeria an 80th-minute equaliser from the spot courtesy of Iheanacho, after Etebo was upended in the box.
Nigeria will next face Togo in an international friendly in Paris on 1 June, as they continue their preparations for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with South Africa.
No comments: