Super Eagles farewell party with Nigerian fans was ruined by a poor call by the centre-referee during Monday’s international friendly against DR Congo which ended 1-1 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
In what represented the last opportunity for Nigerian Football fans to cheer the Super Eagles at home before this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals, the three-time African champions looked set to return to winning ways on Monday evening until the wrong call by the referee from Ghana.
GOALS
Troost-Ekong‘s first-half effort off a superb floated free-kick above the Congolese defence gave the home side a one-goal lead at halftime.
After the break, a misjudged penalty call by the referee for a foul on Issama by Ola Aina outside of the box handed the visitors the opportunity to go level with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Substitute Malango Ngita stepped up and put the ball past Francis Uzoho. Despite Nigeria’s late attacking onslaught, the Congolese kept their cool and saw off the game at 1-1.Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr handed starting roles to Leon Balogun and Elderson Echiejile while the team’s captain John Obi Mikel who missed the Eagles’ last two friendlies against Poland and Serbia started from the bench.
Balogun who week secured a move to Premier League side Brighton returned to partner William Troost-Ekong in the heart of the defence, with Echiejile and Tyronne Ebuehi fielding in at the right and left-back positions respectively.
Ogenyi Onazi who captained the team in the absence of Mikel was partnered in the midfield by Joel Obi and Oghenekaro Etebo.NPFL goal king Junior Lokosa made up the front trio alongside Simeon Nwankwo and Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.
Up next for the Eagles are fixtures against the Three Lions of England and CzechRepublic on June 2 and 6 respectively.
The England game will take place at the Wembley stadium before the trip to Austria for their final World Cup warm-up tie with Czech.
