The Super Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by Ukraine in a friendly encounterat the Dnipro Arena on Tuesday, reports Completesports.com reports.
Debutant, Joe Aribo put the Super Eagles ahead in the fourth minute following an enterprising display of skills by Samuel Kalu
Kalu dazzled the Ukraine defence with his piece of skills before passing the ball to Alex Iwobi who assisted Aribo to break the deadlock.
Three minutes after the hour-mark, the Super Eagles doubled their lead with Lille star Victor Osimhen scoring his first goal for the three-time African champion to further silence the the home fans in lside the Dnipro Arena.
The Super Eagles were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute after Kalu was tripped inside the box by Eduard Sobol and Victor Osimhen stepped forward to convert the resultant spot kick.
Ukraine finally broke the Super Eagles resistance in the 78th minute, thanks to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s brilliant movement and finish.
A minute later – 79th minute, Roman Yaremchuk netted a controversial hand-aided goal to draw the hosts level, and both teams both sides battled to end it in stalemate in Dnipro.
Ukraine 2 – 2 Nigeria (0: 2): Match Stats
Goals: Zinchenko (78th), Yaremchuk (79th) – Aribo (4th), Osimhen (34th, pen.).
UKRAINE LINEUP: Lunin – Sobol, Matvienko, Burda, Karavayev, Malinovsky (Shepelev, 73rd), Zinchenko, Kovalenko (Buyalsky, 67th), Tsygankov (Konoplyanka, 73rd), Yarmolenko (capt) (Marlos, 58th), Moraes (Yaremchuk, 37th) ).
Subs Not Used: Pankov, Pyatov, Bolbat, Krivtsov, Plastun, Mykolenko, Bezus.
Coach: Andriy Shevchenko.
NIGERIA LINEUP: Francis Uzoho – Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong (capt) (Chidozie Awaziem, 87th), Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Joe Aribo, Oghenekaro Etebo, Samuel Chukwueze (Emmanuel Dennis, 82nd), Alex Iwobi (Anderson Esiti, 70th), Samuel Kalu (Moses Simon, 73rd), Victor Osimhen (Josh Maya, 90th +1).
Subs Not Used: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Maduka Okoye, Paul Onuachu, Brian Idowu, Kelechi Iheanacho.
Coach: Gernot Rohr.
Referee: Paolo Valeri (Italy).
Yellow card: Victor Osimhen (84).
By Adeboye Amosu
Got what it Takes?
Predict and Win Millions Now
COMMENTS
Honour to whom honour is due…
For unto us a star is born, unto us a maestro is given WELCOME JOE ARIBO.. weldone Super Eagles,Rohr,NFF & Ukraine but shame on referee Valerie and his cohorts
Joe Aribo was simply the player to step in to Mikel and OKocha ‘s shoes in SE. The guy was delightful to watch today.
Olatunji, I think our strongest starting 11 at the moment (if all fully fit) are:
Uzoho
Aina – Ekong – Omeruo – Ebuehi
Ndidi – Etebo
Chukwueze – Aribo – Iwobi
Osimhen
** I will draft Iwobi to the flanks to create space for Aribo while reluctantly relegating Kalu to the bench. **
Just one minor adjustment, I’d make the midfield trio Ndidi Aribo and Iwobi.
If we can get Kalu and Chukwueze to be a little bit less selfish we will bag more goals.
Add Ebuehi, Ndidi, Omeruo to the first team and Onyekuru to the bench and we nudge closer to Uhuru.
I totally agree with your midfield trio @BigD. Today’s game shows that Kalu and Chukwueze owns the wings only if they can be more clinical. Oh boy Kalu is amazingly creative not to be one of the first names in the SuperEagles starting line up. I’m not sure will bench Collins for either of Aina and Ebuehi. Aina will get my nod for the right back spot. Omeruo will continue to partner Ekong. Unfortunately Etebo May be the odd man out. However, the future remains bright as ever.
Uzoho
Aina
Ekong
Omeruo
Collins
Ndidi
Aribo
Iwobi
Kalu
Chukwueze
Osimhen
Etebo was influential in the midfield in Dnipro.I also like Aribo.In my opinion Iwobi should stay put in the attacking midfield he was phenomenal and you could see his form for Everton is rubbing on the super eagles our gain ha.A big headache to chose between Etebo and Aribo good pain for the manager.
Meanwhile,if Ejaria and Zubby are added to the mix,we will be very formidable and rich on the bench as well to avoid what happened last night with Esiti’s introduction literally costing us victory.
What i love about your comment is that you said reluctantly drag kalu to the bench. It is difficult putting him on the bench. But you did not talk about musa
Wow! This Super Eagles team gathered by Coach Gernot Rohr I tell you are going places. They brought back today the long time memory of Nigeria FEARFUL, SKILLFUL AND ROBUST Attack. Thank God we caught that boy JOE ARIBO!! Aribo alongside Etebo(fantastic holding midfielder) and Star-boy Iwobi midfield composure is what we make me stay glued to the Super Eagles even more. Chai! What happens when Ndidi comes back ooo??? cuz this ARIBO guy is not a bench material at all. Too much quality in the team! They outplayed the Ukraine in front of there vociferous fans and there fans were wowed! They never taught those boys could pull out that display obviously.
On to the attack…
What a joy! KALU is back to full fitness and he has proven to us again that he’s a mainstay in that attack line. Oshimen- perfect replacement, Chukwueze- ever dazzling just needs to chop off some selfishness in his game.
The Defence was OK though I wasn’t so comfortable with all round display of Ajayi today cuz he was cut out of position in some occasions; no thanks to Zichenko. OMERUO partnership with Ekong was missed. Aina and Collins played veey well as usual. Uzoho! had a brilliant showing today. He pulled out spectacular saves. He’s the man!
The team played good football with great composure tonight. No thanks to Coach Rohr. The only thing I need Coach GR needs to learn well now is his Substitute-management. I think when we were 2-0 up, some attackers like Iwobi was tired and Chukwueze was missing some glaring chances and should have been subbed earlier on. Even Oshimen at some point cuz he was frustrated by the Ref wrong calls against him. That would have added a bit of urgency in our attack. The Ukrainian team kept on ringing changes and over-powered our boys and the rest they say is history now.
The Referee: Who knows if he was bribed during the 1st half/2nd half interval?? He came into the second half and turned a beast. So many wrong calls(Oshimen the worst victim). The Second goal was very very wrong. A clear hand ball confirmed by the Center referee but after the discussion with the Assistant, he changed his mind…so bad! One more thing I would like the NFF and General public to take note of is the RACIAL GESTURE the REFEREE showed towards Etebo!! I don’t know if I was the only one who saw that??? That was clear Racism and am not surprised cux he’s an Italian and they are well known for that.
All in All, this team has showned those who really knows football and watch without sentiment that they are good to go! Very solid team. All the best in there club endeavors.
JOE ARI-BALL, THE NIGERIA STALLION. You are welcome to the big time.
This match should have ended in a rout with Ukraine on the receiving end. If we had won 2-1, it still wouldn’t have satisfied me, because of the way we dominated the game, and the countless chances we created! So, this 2-2 draw feels like a defeat to me. However, there are many positives. The team’s first half performance was world class. If we play like we did in the first half, we can beat any team in the world. ANY TEAM. What Rohr needs to do now is get them playing for 90 mins. Seems the boys tired out in the second half, and the substitutions did not help. The wastefulness in front of goal was the biggest issue for me. Chukwueze was just too selfish! Osimhen tried to create chances for others, but they were wasted. Iwobi and Kalu missed 2 golden opportunities. Misses galore, instead of goals galore! Hopefully, the young lads are learning valuable lessons. Go for the kill when you can, because if you don’t, your opponent can come back and kill you! I also want Rohr to seriously consider the 3 center back formation. Our defence is always much better with 3 center backs. And now we have 5 proven, battle ready choices in Ekong, Omeruo, Balogun, Awaziem and Ajayi. In Kalu, Collins, Aina and Simon, we have 4 good wing backs. The midfield is ok with guys like Ndidi, Aribo, Iwobi, Etebo, and I think we need to start including Zubby in the squad going forward. The attack was ok. We created a multitude of chances. We just need to start sticking them in the back of the net. At a point in today’s game, we could have been 4 or 5 goals up! Scoring goals is actually a great DEFENSIVE tactic as well, because when you score, you deal your opponent a psychological blow. We’ve got to be more ruthless in attack. We’ve got to increase our conversion ratio. We created at least 10 good chances today, and scored only 2. Not good enough. Rohr needs to work on this.
The boys did well. Hopefully, they will do better in the future.
I deserve a standing ovation from Nigerians. I discovered Aribo for Oga Rohr. Instead of you guys to thank God on my behalf, you are praising Oga Rohr.
However, why Nigeria 2-2 drow against Ukraine should be questioned?
I am expecting more of this result to come. The game could have ended 2:0 if we had good coaching crew in charge of today’s game.
Patriotic Nigerians will never celebrate this result. This is how Super Eagles are going to be playing till 2022.
Tactically, the coach failed again.
This shows that we can’t protect our lead against any top teams. This should be a big concerned.
I am not satisfied. We have the players but why are we not getting good results?
Someone said I only watches few minutes when Nigeria were winning but watches full 90 minutes when Super Eagles were losing. Isn’t funny ba? Lolz.
Am I not a Nigerian like them? Well, wa ala yin na nimo nbakiri o because I can’t waste my time on this wasteful Oga Rohr team.
Shine your eyes my people. This team has what it takes to delivered the result today but failed again.
Shall will continue this way? God bless Nigeria!!!
Guy you are looking for someone to antagonize you? Pray they don’t fall for it!
Yes, Rohr has failed. Don’t mind Dr Drey and Ayphilly, they know nothing about football.
Rather than pay homage to Omo9ja, they are paying homage to Rohr, what nonsense.
What have we seen so far my people?
Omo9ja recommended Aribo to Rohr.
Omo9ja loves his country.
Omo9ja recommended new players for Rohr.
Omo9ja asked Rohr to play different football.
And what about Ayphilly and Drey, they have shown 0 gratitude to the greatest pundit of our generation, dare I say, of all times.
I say unto you this day, your treachery shall bare you witness when the time comes as omo9ja continues to lead those who should know better.
Hahahahahaha…..He discovered Joe Aribo….?????LMAO
When he was playing for Charleton Athletic last season or when he was playing non-league football 3 seasons ago…..???
And pls where did you discover him…? At a talent hunt or a scouting mission…? Mr discoverer.
.
Or was it not when he was signed on by rangers and started attracting media attention that you also got to know him. Obviously you think you are the only one that has internet in you village….?
.
Only you discovered Onuachu…..Only you discovered Esiti…..now it is you that has discovered Aribo. Kuku add Osimhen, Sam chukweze, Mikel Obi, Kanu and Jayjay Okocha to your list of ‘discoveries’ na.
“Someone said I only watches few minutes when Nigeria were winning but watches full 90 minutes when Super Eagles were losing.”
Mr….stop lying and trying to play ‘innocent’…lolz….its not someone that said so. Your 1st punchline on this forum anytime the SE does well in a match is always…..”Although I didn’t watch the match, but i saw highlights on youtube”…..LMAO. And then you will go ahead and spill all sorts of your usual garbage rhetorics. Pls tell us, how can someone who wasn’t at the scene of an accident describe what happened and even pass a verdict on who is to blame for the accident….LMAO. Omo9ja is the only person I know in this world that will come to an accident scene after the victims and the vehicles have been taken away and start describing what he didnt see….’It was the white vehicle that caused the accident’….when in actual fact there was no white vehicle involved….LMAO
“A good coach would have changed tactics when it became 2-1 in order to defend our lead”…….dude didnt even know that the equalizer was a hand of god goal straight from kickoff after the 1st goal…..LMAO
But once the team has a bad day in office…..you always discard that punchline and go straight to your mission of hatred and evil. Infact for days, you will have all the time in the world, that you never have to watch 90 mins of football, to spread you hatred around the globe. Lolz
Everybody is here commending the team and speaking of how brilliant they were set up and performed, and how the referees need to bow their heads in shame……you are here talking otherwise. That’s what hatred does to people…..they scream at you for raisisng dust even when you have just fallen into an Olympic sized swimming pool.
The day youtube crash, some people will not be able to watch SE again o….Lolz
Dr Drey, I said Rohr has, full stop.
Omo9ja discovered Maja and Emmanuel Dennis as well.
Hahahaha….uncle clandestine….kuku add David Okereke, Maduka Okoye and every other latest invitee. LMAO
Rohr has failed. The only one spreading hatred is you, towards omo9ja.
We shall not rest until either Bulus of MFM or Amakapabo becomes Nigeria’s coach because they will do a better job.
For the last time, Rohr has failed. Learn to respect your elders.
Hehehehehehe…your ‘Pep Guardiolas of Africa’ took us to 66th position in the world, the one you claim to have failed in almost dragging us back up into the top 30 in the world.
He has truely failed indeed…..LMAO
Lolz. @Peterside Udah, I can’t stop laughing ooo lolz.
Let them know węla. I don’t need to talk no more.
Hmmmm, I’m still laughing bro. God bless us all. God bless Nigeria!!!
The real result of the match is 2-1 in favour of the Super Eagles. We were just robbed on broad daylight. This Aribo guy is too much and too hot! Chukwueze should know that selfish football playing will rubbish him if he continues playing such. He should pass the ball sometimes. The first goal against us came as a result of holding too much on the ball and not passing early. Hence, we lost the grip on the ball and allowed the Ukrainians to pressed us hard. Two quick goals scored in 2 minutes against us was embarassing. We could have been more clinical in front of goal. Well, it is a friendly and only hope they are learning lessons o!
I know loads would take my head for this,but a little stir in the water causes no harm;
My take from the match is that Rohr proved to me what I already knew.
He is good in ‘man-management’ but seriously lacks in tactics.
Yes.it was a friendly,but friendly games aren’t just for the players,it is for the coaches too,to freshen up in their technical department,do some tweaking if needs be or fine tune already built system,heck! Bring something new on board.. but not Rohr.
From his set up,you know he is setting up like he always did. He just made like for like changes in players due to the obvious missing of some key players; Aribo in for Ndidi, Osimhen for Ighalo,kalu for Musa and Ajayi for Omeruo.. for this I find no problem.
Rohr playing style is always to sit deep and break on the counter,cause we got the players to do just that.
It worked,we scored 2 goals.till the opposition read the game,made some quick changes and tweak their formation,from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 diamond. and what did Rohr do?
Like for like changes.no formation change.just made player changes for same position.
Esiti in for Iwobi,to push Aribo forward. Simon and Dennis in for the wingers,Kalu and Chukwueze.
What followed was a coach exposed,cause the Ukrainians got back into the game and equalised.it showed me, a coach too reliant on players and if those players are gone,his team collapses. Cause those who came in( I am looking at you,Esiti and to some extent Simon),weren’t as good as those they replaced.
The coach should always be tactically proactive. Rohr still isn’t.
And why did he take so much time to bring in Dennis and Maja? What do they expect to do with that little time given to them and how do we get to access them,when the next international is months away.
There is a reason everyone is hailing the players rather than coach Rohr tactical savvy.
I am one who respects Rohr,cause he has done a great job by creating a serene atmosphere in the eagles camp.but he has also caused us some vital matches due to his inept tactical ability.he got the tools,he should be creative and shouldn’t be afraid to use them.they are his.
If not,i suggest the Nff hires someone as a technical assistant to Rohr.he needs it.even the great Alex fergusson had Queiroz.
This is just my take from the match.
Mr. Hush, God bless you so much. You nailed it. Wisdom and understanding will never departs from you. Thank you for saying the truth. I love coach Rohr too but tactically, the man is not there.
You are seeing what I’m seeing bro. We should have won the match easily yesterday but Oga Rohr failed tactically.
I said it immediately after the match yesterday but some people were calling me names.
NFF need to act fast on this issue. I said my own. God bless Nigeria!!!
Dele Ali is now in Nigeria team thank you aribo
Theses are lists of midfielders rohr must select from or else he will hqve a big problem (xenophabia or phaboaxeno depending on my mood) joe aribo. Kelechi nwqkali. Azubuike oke. Wil ndidi. Etebo. Iwobi. And onazi if fully recovered. Ejiara should beg for eagles i havnt seen any speciall from that guy. Our wingers please Moses simon and armed musa should kindly retire from wings. Musa should be considered as a striker i mean center foward i think he can deliver from there. Moses simon should be consider to play in the deffence right back since that is wat he is now good for our wingers are Sam chuk. Sam kalu. H onyekuru. Mankajoula. Haruna lukeman. Ndifrike effiong. Sunday falaye. Attackers are osihmen. Musa ahmed. And david okereke. Even tammy will soon join
Please add Zubby and kelechi Nwankali to this midfield based on their performances for u23 plus ndidi returning to the fold and we have a complete midfield.
look at coaches