“It was a penalty” – Super Eagles new boy on debut delight, goal conceded against Algeria

The Nigerian national team played out a thrilling draw in a test game with the Algerian B team yesterday evening

Hapoel Jerusalem goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo has expressed his delight at finally playing his first game for the Super Eagles.

Adebayo made his unofficial debut for Nigeria in the 2-2 draw with the Algeria CHAN team in a test game on Friday.

The 22-year-old goalie came off the bench at halftime, replacing Watford shot-stopper Maduka Okoye.

Jose Peseiro’s men, at the time, were trailing by a lone goal scored by CR Belouizdad forward Karim Aribi moments before the end of the first half.

Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi and Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers found the net for the Super Eagles in the second half of the encounter.

Goalkeeper Adebayo was, however, denied a clean sheet on his debut as Algeria B grabbed their second of the day through a penalty kick.

Adebayo is delighted to have worn the famous green-and-white kits for the first time. But the Warri-born goalie lamented conceding via the spot kick.

“It’s great to play for the Super Eagles; I’m just happy to make my debut for the Super Eagles. I’m just happy to play for my country,” Adebayo told NFF TV.

“It would have been great to keep a clean sheet, but it was a penalty and there was nothing I could do about it.

“We are working hard in training and looking forward to the next game on Tuesday.”

Adebayo was in the Super Eagles squad that defeated Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in June, but he did not make it off the substitutes bench in both games.