NIGERIA 1 (4) V 1 (2)SOUTH AFRICA
Ten Thoughts.
- South Africa dominated the first half by miles. They were skilful and quick, moving in and out of tight spaces like Ninjas, making mazy runs and sharp decoys and forcing our goalie to make a big leaping save. Solid team.
- Again, our defence won us this game. In a game our midfield and attack were complete letdowns. They maintained positional discipline and did their best to contain the rampaging SA attackers. A lot of credit should go to Aina for how he shut down Percy Tau. Ekong for his calmness and superior mental strength to beat the SA goalkeeper twice from the apot, and his organisational ability. We looked vulnerable at times, but we never looked indisciplined.
- When my bet cut after they cancelled Osimhem’s goal and gave a penalty against us instead, I said , Fvck it, let us go to penalties. I badly wanted us to face them at the aspect they are considered strongest at, make our boys clear every doubts. I was sick of the nonsense bragging about their goalkeepers penalty heroics and the talk about if the game gets to penalties, Nigeria would lose. I mean, you haven’t faced penalties played by the Super Fucking Eagles of Africa and you dey claim African best. Who are you! Had it been we know you we will give you detty slap.
See as our players made their goalie look ordinary. He absolutely had zero chance. Even the penalty we missed, Aina still sent him the wrong way. Who dash am penalty to catch? My friend catch this business flight ticket back to Johannesburg and use your 24 hours light watch us lift the cup abeg. Don’t be stoopid. - I am pleased to announce that our long, painful search for a reliable goalkeeper since Enyeama and Carl Ikeme is over with Nwabali’s display tonight. He was solid. He was calm. He was brave and he was very intelligent. He knew when to sprint out of the box to make a clearance, he knew when to retreat. His super save in the first half was class. Because I watched that part again and realised his sight of the ball was partially blocked, but he still deployed his reflexes to make the save. The man of the match and definitely the goalkeeper of the tournament.
- Singuu people dey suffer sha. Because immediately Iheanacho scored his penalty I immediately grab phone and called my woman to share the joy. How do you people live with yourselves without person to dey celebrate big moments like this with? But e be like i go ban this babe from watching Naija games. Make dem no use high blood pressure turn me to widower before my time.
- Again, I give credit to our coach. After the dismissal first half, he came back with a better strategy that gave us chances to finish off the game, but for Lookman’s poor decision making. Also the selection of penalty kickers was spot on. Every single one of them sent the South African goalkeeper to him papa village. Make e be local champion for there.
- I am very happy for Kelechi Iheanacho. He deserves this kind of comeback. He has been one of Nigeria’s most consistent player and he did himself a favour by keeping his nerves together to smash home that last penalty.
- Afrobeats is superior to Amapiano
- I believe this game is the biggest test Nigeria has faced in this competition. South Africa always brings their A game when playing Nigeria and today they turned to prime Bafana Bafana. They repeatedly breached our offside traps, moved the ball expertly in and out of tight spaces and brilliantly linked from midfield to attack. It is a credit to our defence that they didn’t concede a normal goal but to a stoopid penalty. This is the first time in my life I will be seeing this kain compactness in defence and organisation in Super Eagles.
- Osimhem unlucky again to have yet another goal cancelled. Although he was immense today, despite being double-teamed and the penalty we scored was due to his hard work. But he needs to sit up and work on the accuracy of his headers. Man had too many chances where he beat his man in the air but directed the ball to one bush in Ogbomoso. Hopefully he gets his big moment in the final on Sunday.
