SPORTS: World cup build-up: Eagles edge Poland in Wroclaw
The Super Eagles began their Russia 2018
World Cup preparations on a bright note with a 1 - 0 win over Poland on Friday night at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw .
Chelsea winger Victor Moses converted from the spot to give Gernot Rohr’ s side the win under wintery conditions in the largest city in western Poland .
The Eagles will play Serbia , who lost 2 - 1 to
Morocco , in their next match on Tuesday .
Going into Friday ’ s game , the Polish side were the clear favourites after climbing one place to sixth in the latest FIFA ranking with the Nigerians 46 places behind the Europeans .
But it was the three- time African champions, who had recorded a historic 4 - 2 win over Argentina in another friendly in Krasnodar last November , that continued their winning streak ahead of their trip to Russia .
In the absence of captain Obi Mikel, who was held back in China by his work permit renewal , Rohr handed the captain’ s armband to William Troost - Ekong .
Deportivo La Coruna teenage goalkeeper
Francis Uzoho started in goal while Leon
Balogun , Troost - Ekong , Brian Idowu and
Abdullahi Shehu were in defence . Eagles
returnee Joel Obi started in midfield along with Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho while Alex Iwobi , Moses and Odion Ighalo were in the attack .
Nigeria started the stronger side as they went in search of an early goal but the Polish defenders kept the Eagles attackers at bay . The Eagles first chance came in the third minute when Iwobi found Moses outside the 18 - yard box but the Chelsea winger’ s cross went wide of goal .
In the eighth minute , Poland got their first
chance as a cross found Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski , who poked the ball beyond Uzoho, but his effort hit the upright and was cleared by the Eagles defenders .
The Eagles kept the momentum but failed to
create clear cut opportunities to beat Poland ’ s defenders . In the 15 th minute , Nigeria ’ s first free - kick of the game failed to threaten Lukasz Fabianski in goal for Poland .
Poland applied a physical approach in the first period of the game , which proved difficult for the Eagles , who struggled find a rhythm .
However , in the 44 th minute , a goalkeeping error from Uzoho almost gifted the Polish a goal but Balogun cleared the ball off the line .
Poland started the second half on a brighter
note and threatened more . Uzoho was forced into a save in the 46 th minute as he dove to his left to claim a shot from Lewandowski .
However , Nigeria went ahead in the 61 st
minute after Moses was brought down in the penalty area , as he tried to weave past the Polish defence . The 27 - year - old dusted himself up before converting the resultant spot kick as he sent substitute goalkeeper Bartosz
Bialkowski the wrong way with cheeky effort .
Thereafter , Uzoho became the busier of the two keepers as Poland came all out in search of an equaliser . But the Eagles defence managed to hold on .
The Nigerians had a great opportunity to
increase their lead in added time off a counter-attack move, when substitute Ogenyi Onazi , who replaced Obi , found Ahmed Musa in the box but the CSKA Moscow winger failed to connect with the pass .
Meanwhile , Turkey - based Mikel Agu has
reportedly been handed a late call- up as a
replacement for Mikel Obi , according to
scorenigeria . com . ng.
“ Mikel Agu has got a late call- up , ” Eagles
spokesman Toyin Ibitoye was quoted as saying on Friday.
The Super Eagles began their Russia 2018
World Cup preparations on a bright note with a 1 - 0 win over Poland on Friday night at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw .
Chelsea winger Victor Moses converted from the spot to give Gernot Rohr’ s side the win under wintery conditions in the largest city in western Poland .
The Eagles will play Serbia , who lost 2 - 1 to
Morocco , in their next match on Tuesday .
Going into Friday ’ s game , the Polish side were the clear favourites after climbing one place to sixth in the latest FIFA ranking with the Nigerians 46 places behind the Europeans .
But it was the three- time African champions, who had recorded a historic 4 - 2 win over Argentina in another friendly in Krasnodar last November , that continued their winning streak ahead of their trip to Russia .
In the absence of captain Obi Mikel, who was held back in China by his work permit renewal , Rohr handed the captain’ s armband to William Troost - Ekong .
Deportivo La Coruna teenage goalkeeper
Francis Uzoho started in goal while Leon
Balogun , Troost - Ekong , Brian Idowu and
Abdullahi Shehu were in defence . Eagles
returnee Joel Obi started in midfield along with Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho while Alex Iwobi , Moses and Odion Ighalo were in the attack .
Nigeria started the stronger side as they went in search of an early goal but the Polish defenders kept the Eagles attackers at bay . The Eagles first chance came in the third minute when Iwobi found Moses outside the 18 - yard box but the Chelsea winger’ s cross went wide of goal .
In the eighth minute , Poland got their first
chance as a cross found Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski , who poked the ball beyond Uzoho, but his effort hit the upright and was cleared by the Eagles defenders .
The Eagles kept the momentum but failed to
create clear cut opportunities to beat Poland ’ s defenders . In the 15 th minute , Nigeria ’ s first free - kick of the game failed to threaten Lukasz Fabianski in goal for Poland .
Poland applied a physical approach in the first period of the game , which proved difficult for the Eagles , who struggled find a rhythm .
However , in the 44 th minute , a goalkeeping error from Uzoho almost gifted the Polish a goal but Balogun cleared the ball off the line .
Poland started the second half on a brighter
note and threatened more . Uzoho was forced into a save in the 46 th minute as he dove to his left to claim a shot from Lewandowski .
However , Nigeria went ahead in the 61 st
minute after Moses was brought down in the penalty area , as he tried to weave past the Polish defence . The 27 - year - old dusted himself up before converting the resultant spot kick as he sent substitute goalkeeper Bartosz
Bialkowski the wrong way with cheeky effort .
Thereafter , Uzoho became the busier of the two keepers as Poland came all out in search of an equaliser . But the Eagles defence managed to hold on .
The Nigerians had a great opportunity to
increase their lead in added time off a counter-attack move, when substitute Ogenyi Onazi , who replaced Obi , found Ahmed Musa in the box but the CSKA Moscow winger failed to connect with the pass .
Meanwhile , Turkey - based Mikel Agu has
reportedly been handed a late call- up as a
replacement for Mikel Obi , according to
scorenigeria . com . ng.
“ Mikel Agu has got a late call- up , ” Eagles
spokesman Toyin Ibitoye was quoted as saying on Friday.
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