Super Eagles chief coach, Sunday Oliseh, has expressed his delight over the goalless draw result the team recorded yesterday against the Tafia Stars of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in one of the 2017 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
The former Eagles captain noted that the rebuilding of the team continues as the Eagles prepare for other crucial games leading to the Nations Cup. He said: “The first half was not good for us.
The second half was a little better. I am happy with the one point. You can’t expect the boys to gel from the beginning that’s why I am happy with the one point we got from this match.” The Eagles head coach, was however full of praises for goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who gave a good account of himself on his debut. “It is unfair to say Ikeme had a decent game.
He was actually fantastic. The Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper was in superb form on his international debut.
We could have conceded some goals and lost the game, but Ikeme wonderful saves didn’t allow that,” Oliseh commended.
Ikeme’s best moment was an amazing save in the 67th minute when he denied Thomas Ulimwengu with a long stretch before scrambling to Mrisho Ngassa’s follow- up which went by the post, with both shots coming from inside the six-yard box. Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa, added that: “Football has changed, there are no small teams.
Tanzania gave us a good game, but I know the Eagles will get better with time.” It was not the debut the Nigeria coach would have hoped for as his team was dominated by a determined home team, who created the better chances but failed to put them away.
The home team were first to settle into this game and TP Mazembe star Mbwana Samatta forced a save from Ikeme after just 13 minutes, when he dashed past Solomon Kwambe only for the Wolves of England goalkeeper to make a wonderful save. With this result, the Super Eagles now have four points and top Group G. pending the outcome of Sunday’s game between Chad and Egypt. While Tanzania who last made an Afcon appearance 35 years ago remain at the base of the log with a point.
