/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2Fcropped-DP-180x180-1.jpg)
The three-time African champions secured their place in the CAF 2022 World Cup qualifiers playoff round following a draw against the Blue Sharks
Nigeria's Super Eagles played out a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde in their final group game in the 2022 World Cup qualifier.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring for the Super Eagles, but Stopira levelled scores for Cape Verde to ensure a share of the spoils.
The draw means the Super Eagles progress to the final playoff round ahead of the Blue Sharks.
Here is how Soccernet rated the Nigerian players.
Maduka Okoye (6): He was slightly at fault for the equaliser as he could have done more. Otherwise, he was largely untroubled.
William Troost-Ekong (5): The Watford man gave away the corner that led to the equaliser and also lost his marker as the corner kick was taken.
Leon Balogun (6): The Rangers defender was calm in possession and dealt well with his challenges.
Chidozie Awaziem (7): Awaziem was once again brilliant in a three-man defence. Timed his tackles well and kept his cool under pressure.
Jamilu Collins (6): The Paderborn defender was solid defensively but poor going forward. His deliveries were not up to standard.
Wilfred Ndidi (6): It was not the best of games for the Leicester City man. Lucky to stay on the pitch after he only received a yellow card for an elbow in the first half.
Joe Aribo (6): Again, not the best of performance from the Rangers star. He got into some promising positions, though, and was denied by Cape Verde's goalkeeper in the first half.
Alex Iwobi (6): Iwobi tried to set up Osimhen on a couple of occasions, but he never had a strong foothold on the game.
Moses Simon (5): He helped out defensively, but was poor in the attack, particularly with his set-piece delivery.
Odion Ighalo (5): The Al-Shabab made his return to the team almost three years after retiring, but it was not an impressive return for him. His hold-up play was decent, but he missed a couple of chances to put Nigeria ahead.
Victor Osimhen (8): Nigeria's best player on the night. He got the opening goal and was a thorn in the flesh of Cape Verde defence. Pressed very well and ran tirelessly.
Subs
Shehu Abdullahi (5): Came on for Simon and did just enough.
Kelechi Iheanacho: Late sub for Ighalo.
Paul Onuachu: Late replacement for Osimhen
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F08%2Fimago1081075920.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F09%2Fimago1082233813.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F03%2Fimago1073841124.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F08%2Fimago1081076496.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fsoccernet.ng%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F12%2Fsoccernet-retina.png){kind=small}
We are so so close to the world cup and we still dont have a solid team…our Coach kept on experimenting for the past few years with all sort of players…! The game between us and Cape Verde today will go down in history as the worse…! It was so listless, no direction, no pattern of play..everyone was just kicking the ball anyhow and easily loosing possession…! Worst still our Coach lacked tactics…he benched the best players like Samuel Chukwueze who could dribble well in the critical area and create problems for the visitors…someone like him that can create penalty in the box…Our Coach is fond of making late changes…! Look I can bet you Nigeria cannot get out of the group stage at the world cup…and if by luck we did, prepared teams like England, France, Argentina, Brazil etc will wallop us up to 7 zero! In a match, a good coach will make necessary substitution in good time, but Nigeria Coach only always makes
late changes in the 75th and 88th minute…?!!!?
Fire Rohr now. Bad coach with no direction for the team.
You are right sir, the coach don’t know what he is doing, no pattern we are just playing individually I don’t think we will make it to the World Cup cos all those teams qualified for the play-off will beat nigeria the way we are playing we need a good coach this coach don’t know what he is doing as soon we realize that and find a better coach then we may have a chance to shine at the World Cup God bless Nigeria.
Our Coach is very poor tactically, there is the need to change him now, before is too late.
well play