Photo Essay
Nigeria 0:0 Saudi Arabia as it happened.
Innsbruck, 25.05.2010
Megapro
Austria is an enchanting place.
Several countries attending the world cup are camping there. Several countries not attending the world cup are camping there also -which include Saudi Arabia, our foes yesterday, as well as Congo DR -their opponents the weekend before. This air, this scenic beauty.
On the Autobahn across the border, I told Yiba that since Nigeria 0:0 Morocco at the Ogbe stadium in 1983, the single match that Nigeria had lost when I attended was only in Köln 1998. This is a stat spanning 27 years, countless games and a dozen different coaches.
Win, lose or draw; Amodu or Lagerback, its always a thrill to see your NT play
Win, lose or draw; Vogts, Amodu or Lagerback, its always a thrill to see your NT play.
The opponents were FIFA ranked 66 Saudi trying out some new players, but any sort of defeat would be seen as a disaster for the morale of the players, coaches and fans. That we all agreed.
I will leave the match report to our armchair experts, but my little take is that the coach having all but two players available for selection chose to start majority of players that had no spot wrapped up.
Rightly so.
Lagerback looks ahead
Warm up before kick-off
Taiwo Ogunjobi, Chairman NFF Technical committee
Congo's Lomana Lualua
The teams file out
A cagey, unimspiring opening proceedings as we left the Saudis dictate the pace and take control of the middle.
Suswan tentative, Anichebe annonymous -before imposing himself from more advanced positions later, Lukman learning on the pitch, while Kanu coud not disguise his age. Such told the type of team we fielded, and could be taking along to the WC.
Lagerback showed composure and seemed to understand his players but must have been bewildered by their unforced errors. There was an instance when Yobo miscued a faulty pass from Suswan and gave the saudis a break which they could not convert. Yobo immediately lay down on the sides attending to his boots or an imaginary injury leaving his position open. Lagerback shouted ”Yusuf, cover for Yobo, Yusuf, cover for Yobo”, but it took an eternity b4 the midfielder did this even when he needed no instruction for that.
Meticulous and with a great work ethic, Lagerback positioned his powerpoint assistant/producer Ulf to record the game. No errors would go unnoticed.
The Eagles found their rhythm as the first half wore on and forced two saves from the opponents goalkeeper but it was comforting that 7-8 starters against Argentina were not (yet) on the dreary display.
to be continued……..