The Super Eagles silenced the Mediterranean of Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo with Jude Odion Ighhalo scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win on Saturday. With his three goals against the North Africans, Ighalo became the 10th player to score a hat-trick for the senior national team. The China-based striker’s hat-trick was the first by any player in the green and white shirt since Nnamdi Oduamadi achieved the feat against Tahiti in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Below is how the Super Eagles players rated against the North Africans in the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier. Find out who shined and who flopped in the clash;
GK: Francis Uzoho: 6/10 – The Elche of Spain goalkeeper had very little to do during the match but pulled off a tremendous save from a goal-bound header in the first half after he initially seemed to be going the wrong way. Another clean sheet that should help improve the youngster’s confidence.
CB: Leon Balogun: 6.5/10 – A comfortable game for the Brighton man, who marshaled the defence with relative comfort despite not getting enough playing time at his Premiership club ahead of this clash.
CB: William Troost-Ekong: 6/10 – He struggled somewhat with the physicality of his direct opponent, and will have been relieved when he was taken off. Was caught wrong side on a few occasions, but recovered well.
LB: Jamilu Collins: 6.5/10 – Solid debut for the Paderborn defender, who has been the object of great intrigue since his invitation. One bursting run in the first half, culminating in an effort which came off the crossbar, was a highlight. He was steady and looked comfortable. He is likely to keep the shirt for a sometime with Bryan Idowu failing to impress and Elderson Echiejile out of depth.
RB: Shehu Abdullahi N/A – He appeared to be defending well and posing threat to the Libyans until he suffered an injury barely 18mins into the first half.
Ola Aina: 6/10 – He came on early on for the injured Abdullahi and although he looked suspect occasionally when having to run back toward his own goal, he performed respectably enough.
DM: Wilfred Ndidi: 6/10 – Solid enough showing from the Leicester man, who came more into the game in the second period. His passing, while still not an asset, looks to be improving somewhat.
DM: Oghenekaro Etebo: 5/10 – A bit of sympathy for him, as he was asked to play a role to which his skills are not suited. Lacked the vision to progress play quickly into the attacking third, and so often played for fouls. The Stoke City midfielder was lucky to not to be booked on the day.
AM: Alex Iwobi: 8/10 – Tremendous performance from the Arsenal man, especially once the rest of the team figured out how to give him the ball in the right zones. He created so much danger by springing his teammates into space time and again. The assist he provided for the second goal of Ighalo was top notch.
RW: Ahmed Musa: 6/10 – He set up the third, but not a convincing display from the captain. Musa struggled to get involved, particularly when stationed on the right, where the option of coming inside on his stronger foot was taken away.
LW: Samuel Kalu: 6/10 – A wasteful showing and he seemed overly eager to make a mark on the game. The Bordeaux man was quite selfish as he truncated a number of promising attacks. He however took his goal, when it finally came off extremely well for him.
Odion Ighalo: 7/10 – He may have netted thrice, but it was not a vintage performance from Ighalo. His decision-making was consistently problematic; he was practically led by the hand by Iwobi for the second, and he almost made a meal of his third. It is a relief that the goals seem to be coming now, in whatever fashion.
Substitutes: Isaac Success: N/A, Henry Onyekuru: N/A
