Super Eagles thrash DR Congo 5-2
SUPER Eagles' new coach, Lars Lagerback, got a glimpse of the capabilities of Nigerian footballers when the country hammered the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-2 in an international friendly game yesterday in Abuja.
Photo Lars Lagerback new 9ja Coach
The Congolese only arrived in Nigeria yesterday morning but did not look quite fatigued as the match started behind schedule at the Abuja National Stadium. Before the match, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), at an impressive ceremony, unveiled the new technical adviser of the Super Eagles, Lagerback, at the Media Centre of the stadium. The event was telecast live on Africa Independent Television, NFF broadcast partner.
At half-time, Lagerback, led by NFF President, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and former coach of Nigeria, James Peters, came down from the VIP Suite to wave to the scanty crowd, as well as shake warmly the stand-in coaches, Daniel Amokachi, Fatai Amoo and Aloysius Agu.
Fast and furious Peter Utaka put Nigeria ahead early in the game before Osamudiamen Idehen increased the tally and Obinna Nsofor made it look easy with a third. Congo reduced the tally with a 42nd minute strike by forward Tresor Mputu Mabi. Mabi scored a second goal for the visitors in the second half but that was after Nsofor, silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics, who has played at three Africa Nations Cup finals, hit a second and Idehen had a shot deflected into the net by a Congolese defender.
At the unveiling ceremony, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, himself a former coach of Nigeria, praised coach Lagerback for his thoroughness and professionalism, as shown during the interview, and urged him to work real hard to lead Nigerian football to a glorious height.
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