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A stoppage time strike by Przemyslaw Wisniewski saw Poland force Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s international friendly match in Warsaw.
The Super Eagles were on the verge of making it back-to-back wins against Poland, thanks to goals from Moffi and substitute Paul Onuachu.
But with just few seconds remaining in the game Wisniewski volleyed home a long range shot which flew past Maduka Okoye to force the draw.
Up next for the Super Eagles is a second friendly clash with 2026 World Cup-bound Portugal on Wednesday, June 10.
For the game against Poland Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle named a start lineup that had Okoye in goal, debutant Abdullahi Bewene, Igoh , Emmanuel Fernandez, Bruno Onyemaechi in defence, Wilfred Ndidi, Tochukwu Nnadi, Frank Onyeka in midfield and Akor Adams, Moffi and Moses Simon in attack.
Poland had the game’s first big chance in the fourth minute but Jakub Kaminski could not direct his free header from a cross towards goal.
In the seventh minute Poland almost broke the deadlock as Akor Adams almost headed a corner into his own net but was lucky to see the ball go inches off target.
Robert Lewandowski had a big opportunity to score on 14 minutes only to see his effort off a set piece go into the waiting arms of Maduka Okoye.
But it was the Super Eagles who took the lead on 23 minutes thanks to Moffi who slotted home from close range off a low cross from Moses Simon. The goal was subjected to a VAR check and was eventually confirmed.
In the 28th minute Poland went close but Okoye calmly stopped a goal bound shot.
With five minutes left to play in the first half Tochukwu Nnadi saw his curler palmed away for a corner.
Poland drew level in the first minute of first half through Kaylee Potulski who slotted home from close range after the Eagles failed to deal with a corner.
Before the start of the second half head coach Eric Chelle made seven changes with Calvin Bassey, Philip Otele, Raphael Onyedika, Rafiu Durosinmi, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi and Onuachu all coming on.
Just few moments after entering into the tie Otele sent in a dangerous cross which was cleared away.
On 71 minutes Lewandowski had a golden opportunity as he pounced on a poor back pass by Zaidu Sanusi but his tame strike was stopped by Okoye.
A minute later Sanusi hit a brilliant left foot strike which the keeper punched away for a corner.
The Super Eagles went 2-1 up on 77 minutes as Onuachu converted from the penalty spot after a Polish player handled the ball in the box.
In the 82nd minute Okoye pulled off a top class save from close range to deny Lewandowski off a set piece.
Okoye was called into action again in the first minute of added time as he got down well to stop a low shot.
But in the 95th minute a superb long range strike by Wisniewski denied the Super Eagles the win.
By James Agberebi
11 Comments
This late draw pain me sha o I no go lie…
Okoye the basket….
Similar goal he conceded against Tunisia. We should give Athur Okonkwo a chance against Portugal we’re losing anyways..
Okoye has ruined my evening!
It appears that both Okoye and Uzoho are still repeating the same mistakes that brought Nwabali to the SE. Okonkwo does not have the international exposure to trust him against a team like Portugal. Nwabali has won his case for SE recall (club or no club). Nwabali exudes a confidence that helps the defence.
You are onpoint no confidence to pull match through
I agree with you @Greenturf….
Omo Greeturf the two-two scoreline feels like a heavy defeat to me…
My confidence in the super eagles started coming back……. Untill okoye!!!! Kai!!!!!! F……..
What is Okoye’s problem with long-range speculative shots? He played very well and made a number of saves other goal keepers would have let in.
Tactically, it appeared Poland were relying on set pieces from corners.
Zaidu Sanusi did not change my mind that he is no longer a good asset for the SE. Even with his speculative shot at target. His loss of concentration almost led to a goal but for Okoye’s splendid save. In every match he has played since recovering from injury, he has made mistakes that either cost or nearly cost the SE a goal.
Moses Simon played the wings intelligently for once in a long while. He must have been inspired by the arrival of Femi Azeez to the SE.
Through the middle, the SE were uninspiring and all their attacks came from the wings – as usual the left wing. This shows Iwobi’s midfield passes through the middle was missed and none of the new midfield talent i.e. Nnadi, showed they had the skills to replace Iwobi’s role in the team. For the most part the entire phalanx of SE midfielders are defensive except Bashiru and Iwobi.
No complaints about the defense except Zaidu, the others acquitted themselves excellently.
Thought they said he has super reflexes than nwabali, abeg make dem shift go one side
A fit Nwabali is by far a better goalkeeper!
Indeed, Okoye has to get his own share of blame for conceding from such a distance.
However, the Polish guy had so much time! No Nigerian challenge, nothing. The guy just relax like say he dey inside em living room, fara bale looked around, took his time to survey the situation, before rolling the dice with that shot. Haba! Even in a Sunday league game, it’s criminal for your opponent to be unmarked like that. At this level, you will surely be punished if you allow your opponent that much time on the ball! Conceding at the last minute in a friendly international in that manner is not good. The coach needs to address the focus and concentration of players, especially in the dying minutes of games. I think if we had Tijani and Yusuf in the middle with Nnadi, that Polish guy would have been closed down and been unable to take the shot. We saw the job that midfield trio did at the Unity cup. We need that kind of work ethic in the midfield at all times.
Good game nonetheless. I have to say we were also fortunate, as Poland came perilously close to scoring several times. That one-on-one miss by Lewandowski on a good day should have found our net. And there were a few other close calls. We as well also came close several times. So, a 2-2 draw for me paints a good picture of how the game went.
On to the next one.
Let me take the positives first.The new guy Bewene Abdulahi is a breath of fresh air even though he is not a finished article yet.
The outline of a vey young Super Eagles is in the Horizon with the established stars in their late 20s or early to mid 30s
Bewene, Fredericks, Fernandez,Arthur in defense with Igho ogbu given game time to build his confidence.Aliebiosu and those two Rangers Enugu full backs at the Unity cup
In Midfield we have Nnadi(who should leave Marseille to get get game time and improve his rhythm) Tijani and and improved Yusuf Abdullai.
Femi azeez, otele, Rafiu Durosimi and an improved Moffi and Zadok(who might go to Newcastle United)
For the first time, I saw the SE play as a team, as a collective with different routes to goal instead of justbdepending on Osimhen.
So they just need more game time together plus the NFF must keep Chelle for the next 4 years at least.Give the man his $100,000. He has not lost a game in regulation time in his last 12 outings.
The team played well.