Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Super Eagles of Nigeria played out a one-all draw against the Selecao of Brazil at a bright and entertaining friendly held at Singapore’s National Stadium on Sunday, October 13, 2019.
The Nigerian side took the lead against the run of play with Glasgow Rangers playmaker, Joe Aribo, dazzled in the Brazil box to slot home a lead in the 35th minute. Brazil were soon level shortly after the interval when Casemiro stabbed home the rebound after Maquinhos had headed off the woodwork.
The game saw Brazil key player, Neymar, limping off in the 12th minute of the action and was replaced by Coutinho.
Casemiro later smacked a header off the bar and Coutinho should have scored a cut back with five minutes remaining but the score remained at 1-1.
The Nigerian players came quite close on a couple of occasions but Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen couldn’t capitalise on the break away to increase the goal tally and possibly steal the day.
The game saw Fortuna Dusseldorf II goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye make his international debut after Uzoho sustained an injury in the 60th minute.
Brazil almost made it 2 goals as Gabigol worked the ball well but Okoye was on hand to deny Brazil to mark a very impressive debut for the Gernot Rohr led side.
Into the five minutes injury time Brazil launched a series of lofted balls into the Nigerian 18-yard box but they were dealt with by the defence or the Nigerian debutant goalkeeper, Okoye.
The game came to an end as both sides shared a point which means Brazil now go four consecutive games without a win while Nigeria will kick off their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign at home against Benin in November.
They are in Group L which also includes Lesotho and Sierra Leone.
