The Flying Eagles of Nigeria played out a drab goalless draw with the Young Atlas Lions of Morocco in their second group game of the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Footynaija.com reports.
It was a game of little attacking endeavour at the 30 June Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt as both teams struggled to create anything worthwhile in their respective attacking thirds.
Nigeria fashioned a couple of decent chances in the first half with forward Precious Benjamin testing Morocco’s goalkeeper on two occasions but that was about it as the Flying Eagles failed to trouble the Moroccan defense throughout the second half.
Footynaija.com takes a look at how each Nigerian player fared during the game.
GK – Ebenezer Harcourt: 6.0
The Nigerian goalie was largely untroubled for most parts of the game as the Morocco attack failed to pose any significant danger. Overall another decent outing for Harcourt.
LB – Odinaka Okoro: 6.8
Another commanding defensive performance from the capable 18-year-old left-back. While he was unable to replicate his attacking exploits against Tunisia in today’s game, he took care of his primary assignment without any issue.
CB – Daniel Bameyi: 7.0
The Flying Eagles skipper was basically faultless in today’s game, leading by example with another impressive performance to help his team record another clean-sheet.
CB – Emmanuel Chukwu: 7.0
Chukwu was his usual dominant self at the heart of defense for the Flying Eagles. Composed on the ball and tenacious in his tackles, the big TSG Hoffenheim starlet dropped another defensive masterclass against Morocco.
RB – Adamu Maigari: 6.5
Maigari put in another decent shift down that right-hand side of the Flying Eagles’ defensive half, stifling most of the Moroccan’s forays into Nigerian territory.
DM – Auwal Ibrahim: 6.5
Ibrahim couldn’t replicate his starring performance against Tunisia in today’s game but he still put in a good performance in the middle of the park.
CM – Israel Yuma: 6.0
Yuma replaced Caleb Ochedikwu in the Flying Eagles’ starting XI and he didn’t do much wrong on the night. However, he seemingly failed to provide the same level of midfield control and dominance that Ochedikwu gave Nigeria in their opening game.
AM – Divine Oliseh: 6.5
A better performance than his last outing against Tunisia overall. However, the highly-rated youngster was still unable to make any significant impact for the Flying Eagles in attack.
LW – Clinton Jephta: 6.3
Compared to his electrifying performance in Nigeria’s opening game against Tunisia, Jephta’s performance against the Young Atlas Lions left so much to be desired. He spent the second half down the right-hand side of attack and it appears that hampered his performance.
RW – Bidemi Amole: 5.5
Amole’s time on the pitch was cut short due to an injury. He didn’t really get a chance to impose himself on the game before his forced substitution in the first half of stoppage time.
ST – Precious Benjamin: 6.8
Benjamin replaced highly rated young striker Kparobo Areirhi in Aliyu Zubairu’s starting XI and the TSG Hoffenheim youngster twice came close to rewarding his manager’s faith in the first half.
Substitutes
Theophilus Rickson: 5.8
The Niger Tornadoes star replaced Amole in the first half but struggled to make any impact for the Flying Eagles from an attacking point of view.
Kparobo Areirhi: 5.0
Came on for the final ten minutes of the game in place of fellow striker Benjamin but barely even got a sniff of the ball before the final whistle.