Flying Eagles fire blanks again

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles failed to score for the second successive pre-World Cup game as they drew 0-0 with Panama Monday night.

The home team dominated this build-up game in Panama City even though Nigeria would be right to feel hard done by the referee Jaffeth Perea’s decision to disallow two second half goals they scored.

Ahmed Musa first found the back of the net on 67 minutes, but his effort was disallowed for offside.

And seven minutes later as Nigeria piled on the pressure, Bright Ejike smashed home from a rebound after the goalkeeper failed to hold on to a Musa shot only for the referee to again overrule the goal.

“We have no reasons to challenge the referee’s decisions because his decisions are final,” said Flying Eagles coach John Obuh.

Like Nigeria, Panama will also feature at the U20 World Cup in Colombia later this month and they enjoyed more of the ball in front of about 2,000 fans at the 35,000-capacity Estadio Rommel Fernandez.

They also created more chances, but in Kwara United goalkeeper Kazim Yekini, they found a bridge too far.

Yekini made at least three inspired saves in the first half and on one of such occasions he was forced to handle the ball outside his box when a Panama striker went clear of the Junior Eagles defence.

He was most certainly busier than his opposite number Luis Mejia.

The skipper Kenneth Omeruo-led defence was also kept on its toes by the speedster Cecilio Waterman as Omeruo and Emmanuel Anyanwu held firm in the heart of the back four.

In midfield, Abduljaleel Ajagun was in his element, pulling the strings with class and efficiency as the Flying Eagles played with more purpose and cohesion than they did last week in another barren draw against Portugal.

However, the strike force must again be a cause for serious concern for coach Obuh. The partnership of Uche Nwofor and Bright Ejike never got going so much so that skipper Mejia in the Panama goal did not make any notable save in the first 45 minutes.

It was also baffling that Ejike lasted the entire 90 minutes even when he looked heavy and hardly put a foot right.

In the second half, substitute Sani Emmanuel combined well with Omoh Ojabu and a minute to full time a near post header by the MVP of the 2009 Under-17 World Cup forced the confident goalkeeper Mejia to scramble for a corner.

In the opening game of this four-nation tournament, Portugal came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Mexico.

Danilo Pereira was the hero for the Portuguese with two late goals in the second half after Mexico pushed ahead with two goals by 41 minutes.

Portugal were most certainly the happier of the two teams after this Great Escape.

The tournament continues Wednesday night with Nigeria taking on the Portuguese in the first game of the day, while Mexico and hosts Panama battle two hours later.

Kick-off time for the Flying Eagles match is 7pm Panama time or 1am Thursday in Nigeria.


MATCH STATS
July 18 at Estadio Rommel Fernandez Panama City
Panama 0
Nigeria 0

Ref: Jaffeth Perea (Panama)
Booking: Kazim Yekini 25

Nigeria line-up: Kazim Yekini – Terna Suswan, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Kenneth Omeruo (Skipper) Felix Udoh – Philemon Daniel Chimezie Mbah 48)Ahmed Musa (Sani Emmanuel 80),Abduljaleel Ajagun, Terry Envoh (Edafe Egbedi 48), Uche Nwofor (Omoh Ojabu 53), Bright Ejike