Liverpool star forward Mohamed Salah was instrumental for Egypt who shocked Belgium 2-1 in a friendly game on Friday.
It was Belgium’s final warm up game before heading to Qatar for the World Cup.
After the friendly with Iraq was recently cancelled, Roberto Martinez had hoped that his players would build some confidence with a strong performance against Egypt.
However, goals from Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet either side of half time put Egypt 2-0 ahead.
Mohamed opened the scoring on 34 minutes before Trezeguet doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half.
With 14 minutes left Lois Openda pulled a goal back for Belgium but Egypt held on to record the shock win.
Although Romelu Lukaku did not feature, was a Martinez named an otherwise strong starting lineup, including the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.
Belgium are in Group F with Canada, Morocco and Croatia and will kickoff their campaign against the North Americans on November 23.
Also Read: Nigerian Breweries Screened Portugal Vs Nigeria International Friendly
Africa’s representative at this year’s tournament Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were held to a 1-1 draw by Panama.
Eric Choupo-Moting gave Cameroon the lead in the 48th minute before Michael Murillo equalised for Panama on 55 minutes.
Cameroon will battle Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland in Group G in Qatar.
And in the other friendly game played on Friday, Serbia warmed up for the World Cup with a comfortable 5-1 win against Bahrain.
16 Comments
More like what we expect from our team.
Egypt is not better player for player but the zeal and competitiveness is not seen in our players lately.
We have players playing and starring in the top five leagues of Europe but playing like they were picked from ligue2
We need to sit up and start playing football or football will leave us.
Osayi Samuel gritty play should be like template for all SE players. I was really so impressed by his grit, tenacity n belief. That was a player on a debut. That gritty play is really missing amongst our players while Ghana has that in abundance. Only Osimene, BASSEY n now Osayi has it . You can’t play a laid back football and win anything. Our players seem to underestimate the technical relevance of going low on your knees when playing. That technique help increase your speed, balance, quickness in changing direction and solidity on the ball. There are some little things that really improve players and going low on kneels is one of them.
You are spot on, Bro. We used to have 11 players like this at a time in the past. Check the team list of Nigeria against Bulgaria in 1994 WORLD CUP
Rufai
Eguaveon
Iroha
Okechukwu
Nwanu
Oliseh
Finidi/Ezeugo
Siasia/ Mutiu
Amuneke
Amokachi
Yekini
Passionate, stubborn and gritty players. They knew what they wanted and were never laid back about it. They were so bold and fearless with a strong self belief. Reason they wallopd Bulgaria so badly. A monumental result by all standards.
But the current generation, with the help of their coaches and the nff, has normalized failure. They see it as nothing and they are gradually making an average Nigerian fan believe that gone are the days when Nigeria is capable of being a dominant force in the game. There is a conspicuous shift in paradigm and nobody feels hurt again if we lose against Portugal or Central Afrivan Republic. Going to World Cup isn’t a must any more because we aren’t meant to be there all the time like Brazil. That is the mentality and it will take a long time to change that. It may not even happen in our generation because the challenges are big and deep.
Bro, our we don’t ve a team yet. Ekong and co are not super eagles materials. Our midfield is dead, for me I think we should pass Ndidi. Our players aren’t motivated, no zeal to win, we need new leadership, more young players to inject passion and speed to the team. I said it before Ghana would do good in this world,not because of skills, the black stars are highly motivated, enjoying playing for their country, plus Ayew and Partey are good leaders, those boys wouldn’t go down without a fight. Something the eagles lacks, leadership and the zeal to win.
And our own team embarrassed team…..even against a less stronger team….playing like some dummies….thank God we didn’t even qualified for this WC. It would have been a disaster
NFF Should better school coach Peserio now that AFCON is not yam or walk in the park.
He always boasting that he want to win AFCON..With these calibre of players a dead tactics?
Just take a look at the Egyptian team beating Belgium and go back to the drawing board or resign because this isn’t an easy target with these lazy players.
@Greenturf,
Loss of confidence. Even the SE fans are getting embarrassed with the self-sabotage of NFF. The NFF must assure us, the coaches, and the players that the SE is a worthwhile venture.
What happened to the almighty supporters club and the president? What do they have to say about the dwindling fortunes of our national teams? As long as the NFF is run like a private enterprise, nothing will work.
Salah inspires egypts. DID U PEOPLE SEE IT. IF I TALK I GET SHUT DOWN EVERTIME BY CLUELESS BALL READERS. UNA DON SEE AM!!!!! WHEN I SAY OSIMHEN LET US DOWN I AM A LIAR I WILL POST IT AGAIN. ..WHAT I POST BELOW.
A BIG PLAYER WITH A BIG PRESENCE CAN I GINGER A TEAM SUBCONSCIOUSLY AND MENTALLY. OSIMHEN NOT PLAYING REALLY AFFECTED OUR GAME BECAUSE FOR 1 PORTUGAL WOULD HAVE PUT AT LEAST W DEFENDERS ON HIM AT ALL TIMES WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED OPENINGS FOR OTHER PLAYERS. HE ALSO LEADS THE PRESS FROM THE FRONT WHICH IS NO COINCIDENCE AS HIS CLUB NAPOLI ARE ONE OF THE BEST AT HIGH PRESS IN EUROPE THIS SEASON. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD REASON WELL AT TIMES. LESS ANGER AND LET THE COACH DO HIS DAM JOB AGAIN READ BELOW AND DIGEST WELLA!!!!
“Some players are demoralized. The absence of Osimhen affected the team they say a player with a big presence can ginger a team mentally and Subconsciously for me the players that need dropping are Ekong, Moses Simon and in their place Olisa Ndah, Isaac Success respectively, Raphael Onyedikachi needs to be brought in the team and also we need to find a way to persuade Eze to come play for Nigeria. and for gods sake Victor Moses needs to make a u-turn the guy is still the best and most experiecencd player SE have currently that is still active, this fable that Musa is a SE legend fed to us by an Nigerian media needs to be squashed. Victor Moses when back from Injury needs to be brought back and handed that Captains Armband he has been the player over the last 12 years that gave SE all the joy we experiecned AFCON 2013 and World cup qualifiers 2018. Sadiq Umar can take Either Moffi or Onuachu place when he is fit again any other drastic action will derail our ball. also if we can get Michael Olise and Destiny Udojie as well as Alhasan Yusuf in the team some then we can make it. But the problem with Nigerias is now every body will have conflicting interest and call for rubbish what I have written above is the only way back on track as of now Umar Sadiq is the only attacker that can Rival Osimhen if he stays fit next season. Thank you!
The players are clearly demoralised for not getting to World cup. And please the hate on Samuel Chukwueze by Nigerians needs to stop he and Osimhen are lethal when playing together!”
DALUNU OOOOOOOOOOOOO
Well said Brodaman Ugo. Samuel Chukwueze is the best winger on the planet. Do called fans should stop hating on him. These are evil fans with evil intentions. Lolzzzz
While I’m disappointed by the scoreline, I’m not totally heartbroken and would rather look at some veiled positives.
1. This is a friendly and major defeats like this underline the relevance or otherwise of certain players.
2. Now we know Bright is super solid and gritty and with Aina, the left back/wing is as good as concluded. No problem.
3. I have a feeling a few foreign borns like him and Ademola will similarly bring a spark in their positions. So if we can get Ejaria, Olise etc, would be nice.
4. Now we know players like Dennis has been automatically retired. Small talent but with big attitude problem just like Oliseh, Enyeama, and Anichebe. They need to be excused.
5. Ndidi seems an overhyped player or his constant injuries or overuse by Rogers is taking a toll on him.
6. Asides from the early days, Aribo keeps proving a minus 1 every time. With Moffi on Thursday, they were totally pocketed, neutralized, and rendered anonymous.
7. We need our best and most experienced assets everytime, especially against top opponents like Portugal. Osimhen would never have been invisible like Moffi. This is not Sao Tome. A tree does not make a forest, but a tree can make a quarter of it.
8. We don’t have goalkeepers. On a light note, Paseiro should check out Chiamaka Nnadozie as replacement for Uzoho. She’s good.
9. Portugal almost has no weekness. They were recently European champions. Will be hard for any player to score against Patricio. The way he reads penalty takers with total concentration is on another level.
10. Like Croatia in 2018, Portugal will very likely get to the World Cup final. I rate them ahead of Belgium, England, even Argentina.
11. I was a bit skeptical about Paseiro from the recruitment points. Even NFF showed no respect with the way they toyed with his confirmation and salary delays. EFCC needs to investigate Pinnick and his board, perhaps an Erikson type of arrangement took place.
12. Be that as it may, I feel Paseiro will get it right soon. The team is still trying to get his philosophy and will thrive when they do. Westerhof too practically had no great record coming here and scandalously lost some matches before going on to get his team selections and tactics right. I believe Nigeria will win Afcon 2023. The good thing is we’ll have a new president with a new vibe.
You people should leave Joe Aribo alone oo. Shebi una don start again with this Sabotaging. Leave Joe Aribo alone o.
Be very careful when calling for one of our best midfielders in Super Eagles dropping
Leave Joe Aribo Alone!
If Joe Aribo is not good, he will not be playing week in week out in Southampton
Didn’t want to comment but…..
The SE midfield is too blunt, leaving the wingers to do the magic alone.
A good midfielder should be:
1. comfortable with the ball on his feet,
2. Superior passing ability (both inside&outside foot) and vision,
3. Breaking lines,
4. Finishing well (R2, shooting ability,…)
5. Free kick/dead ball specialists,
6. Receiving balls under pressure,
7. Defending skills, tackle well and break up plays,
8. Fitness and great stamina,
9. Shooting ability
10. Body movement and shape,
11. Positioning/awareness, discipline and leadership,
12. Dribbling skills on 1v1 and ability to drive in through spaces
13. Speed, among others.
Pls let’s rate our midfielders on this scale and tell me their scores…!
How can you have midfielders who cannot play Superior passes (Iwobi is just low passes, what about the up passes? the kind that can locate a striker’s head or chest???), All our midfielders should be able to surge forward into spaces, shoot and create passes with ease.
I think the Coach’/team’ greatest work now is the midfield.
Pls Aribo is not a 10 unless he improves. Iwobi can be managed for now while we get better midfielders with >85% of the above qualities.
Cheers!
Well said Brodaman. You have nailed it.
Ugo
Your write up is great. But let’s take a another perspective. Do you know how demoralising and the lack of motivation anyone can get from playing for a country that does not care when you get injured and will not pay you match bonuses and allowances for over 3 years.
Think about that and digest it.
It kills your drive, motivation and the inherent ability to give your best.
Everyone knows that those players would have given more than that in their clubs.
Why are they being owed match bonuses for almost 3 years?
What is their insurance package if they get injured on national duty?
Answer these questions genuinely and you have a good playing field to blame the players
None of you will retain your drive and productivity if you remain unpaid in your respective jobs for 3 years
I agree with you 100 percent and on the flip side it may even pain the dual nationals more knowing that they would not be facing this unpaid stories had they chose thier adopted nations..
You are spot on bro hence i always say Nigeria is the master at self destruction and self Sabotaging we see it in every aspect of this society