Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Wednesday overpowered the hard fighting Police Machine Football Club 2-0 in a friendly match at the FIFA Goal Project pitch in Abuja.
The Police Machine team, currently the FCT Federation Cup champions, failed to ‘arrest’ the better coordinated Eagles, who used the tie to continue their buildup for next week’s friendly against Niger Republic, and next month’s Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia.
Enyimba’s Uche Kalu scored the curtain raiser with a perfectly taken free kick in the 31st minute, while Sanusi Sanni of Gombe United netted the second goal in the 89th minute to seal victory for the senior national team.
Eagles’ goals did not come that easy, as the FCT side made up of entirely serving policemen took an early fight to the national team. But, they were repelled by the back four of Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwueke, Papa Idris and Juwon Oshaniwa.
After five minutes into the tune up encounter, the Eagles midfield, anchored by Gabriel Reuben and Solomon Jabason seized the initiative and attacked their opponents with short and crisp passes.
Early chances fell on Kalu’s laps inthe 5th, 7th and 20th minutes, but he wasted them, while Reuben equally blasted wide from 40yards in the 15th minute.
Newcomer, Benjamin Francis’ clever chip narrowly veered off target in the 24th minute and leftthe scanty crowd animated.
Eagles’ goalkeeper for the first half, Daniel Akpeyi was practicallyon holiday for greater part of the stanza.
An opening goal was imminent in the 30th minute, when Oshaniwa’s overlapping run fromthe left flank was harshly halted, and referee Aniete wasted no time in awarding a direct free-kick from about 20 yards. Kalu stepped forward to blast home the kick for the Nigerian team.
Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi took time to waste more scoring opportunities after the goal, before the Police team forced a goal-line clearance from Oboabona in the last minute of the half, which ended 1-0.
Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, featured an entirely fresh team inthe second half, as goalkeeper Moses Ocheje made an early save from Kabiru Ismail, while Abdul Garba and Godwin John all of Police Machine also caused some moments of tension on the Eagles’ bench.
However, 3SC’s midfielder, Philip Asuquo and Sanni of Gombe United were the heroes of the second stanza.
Nigeria Premier League, NPL top scorer, Sibi Gwar, was pulled out midway into the half by Keshi, while Asuquo’s command of the midfield and Sanni’s deft touchesin the attack troubled the police team.
It was no surprise when Asuquo and Sanni, aided by the experience of Izu Azuka combined beautifully for Sanni toblast home the second goal moments before the referee’s final whistle in the 89th minute.
Keshi said he has observed some problems in the squad, and will make the necessary corrections before the friendly against Niger Republic next Wednesday in Niamey.