EGYPT 1-0 NIGERIA: How Super Eagles Rated against Pharaohs of Egypt

 EGYPT 1-0 NIGERIA: How Super Eagles Rated Vs Pharaohs

 DANIEL AKPEYI 7/10

Put up a brave performance in what was his first competitive game for the Super Eagles. Made two brilliant saves on  39 minutes  and could do nothing to prevent the Pharaohs from scoring the winner.

SHEHU ABDULAHI 4/10

A below-par showing from the Uniao Madeira of Portugal defender. He was constantly caught out of position especially in the first half and contributed little going forward.

EFE AMBROSE 5/10

The Celtic man did well to curtail the Pharaohs  attackers, but couldn't prevent them  from scoring the decisive goal. He  also lost possession a few times.

GODFREY OBOABONA 6/10

Solid as ever, but was  unfortunate to end up on the losing side.

STANLEY AMUZIE 3/10

Surprisingly kept his place in the starting eleven and put up a shoddy display in the game.  He was rightly substituted at the start of the second half after an error-prone performance.

OGHENEKARO ETEBO 4/10

Couldn't replicate his first leg performance. He make little impact in the game and  was substituted due to injury.

MIKEL OBI 5/10

The Chelsea midfielder had an average game although he started well, controlling the midfield early on. He however failed to lift his side to get a positive result from the game.

AMINU UMAR 4/10

A surprise inclusion in the starting line up. Umar toiled hard to make an impression in the game with no success.

AHMED MUSA 3/10

Another horrific display from the winger. Never made any significant impact in the game for the entire 90 minutes he spent on the pitch.

VICTOR MOSES 8/10

Unarguably Super Eagles best player in the game. Came close to getting the equalising goal late in the game when his shot hit the post.

ODION IGHAL0 4/10

Yet to make an impact on the international stage. The Watford forward struggled to get going and had a poor game by his Premier League standards.

SUBSTITUTES

ELDERSON ECHIEJILE 5/10

Took the place of Stanley Amuzie at the start of the second half and did little  to change the complexion of the game.

AZUBUIKE IKECHUKWU 6/10

The defensive midfielder helped stabilise the Super Eagles midfield when he came on for the injured Oghenekaro Etebo. He surely has a big future ahead of him.

ALEX IWOBI 6/10

Brought some life into the Super Eagles attack when he replaced Aminu Umar in the 72 minute.

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AFCON 2017 Qualifier: CAF deduct 3 points from Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania fines Chad

AFCON 2017
CAF deduct 3 points from Nigeria, Egypt, fines Chad

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has deducted points from Nigeria, Egypt and Tanzania, all members of Group G, following the withdrawal of Chad from the ongoing qualification race for the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon 2017.

Chad were due to travel to Tanzania for the fourth match in the group, but instead made the announcement of a shocking withdrawal, citing financial constraints.

CAF swiftly applied its rules in conformity with Article 61 of the regulations of the competition which states: “If a team withdraws from the qualifying phase organised in groups, all its results shall be annulled (points, scored and conceded goals)”.

“Consequently, the three matches of Chad of Group G are cancelled and the results will not be taken into consideration”, CAF said.

Egypt still lead the group with four points, while Nigeria have two. Tanzania have a point.

CAF further said that in accordance, with the rule set by CAF Executive Committee on 15 January 2015, any group reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of a team will have only the group winner qualifying for the final tournament.

Furthermore, the Chadian Football Federation has been fined 20,000 US Dollars and also barred from participating in the next edition of the AFCON in conformity with Article 59 of the regulations of the Competition which states “any association declaring forfeit after the start of the matches is liable to a fine of twenty thousand (20,000) U.S. dollars. It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition of the AFCON”.

Meanwhile, Egypt will face Nigeria on Tuesday, 29 March 2016 in Alexandria.

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Suarez score a brace as Uruguay held Brazil

Suarez score a brace as Uruguay held  Brazil with a 2 - 2 draw

Luis Suarez scored on his return from a worldwide ban for biting as Uruguay fought back from 2-0 down to grab a 2-2 draw with Brazil in a pulsating World Cup qualifying battle on Friday.

Barcelona star Suarez – playing his first international since infamously chomping on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup – struck in the 48th minute to complete a remarkable Uruguayan fightback.

Uruguay had looked to be sliding to a heavy defeat after Brazil went 2-0 up inside the first half an hour thanks to goals from Bayern Munich striker Douglas Costa and Renato Augusto.

But Edinson Cavani pulled a goal back for Uruguay to allow Suarez – installed as captain by coach Oscar Tabarez - his moment of glory at the Arena Pernambuco.

The draw left Uruguay in second place in the South American standings, three points behind leaders Ecuador with 10 points from five games.

Brazil moved up to third, level on eight points with Argentina and Paraguay but ahead on goal difference.

Brazil took the lead in the opening minute with a well worked goal created by Chelsea winger Willian.

The 27-year-old teased and tormented Sebastian Coates on the right flank before floating a cross to Costa who delicately steered home the finish.

Brazil's dream start set the tone for the rest of the half, with the hosts rampant against a feeble Uruguay who offered only token opposition for long periods.

However Brazil had to wait until the 26th minute to grab their second, which arrived after more sorcery from Neymar.

The Brazilian captain split Uruguay's defence with a wonderful pass that Alvaro Pereira could only deflect into the path of Renato Augusto.

Augusto then pulled off a magical dummy to wrong-foot the advancing Fernando Muslera before firing high into the net for 2-0.

Yet Uruguay came roaring back to score with their first attack of the game and what turned out to be their only attack of the half.

Pereira advanced down the left flank and crossed to Carlos Sanchez at the far post, who knocked down into the path of Paris Saint-Germain star Cavani who lashed in a perfectly timed volley to make it 2-1.

Thereafter however it was all Brazil, with Neymar shooting just wide on 34 minutes as Brazil laid siege to the Uruguayan goal.

But in the opening minutes of the second half Uruguay drew level with another goal against the run of play.

Pereira released Suarez, and the striker drilled a low shot that the advancing Brazil goalkeeper Alisson couldn't grasp.

The goal galvanised Uruguay who showed far greater resilience thereafter.

Although Brazil dominated they were kept at bay, and Neymar's frustration boiled over on 63 minutes when he was booked for a peutlant kick on substitute Alvaro Gonzalez.

Dani Alves also earned a caution in the 75th minute for a wild tackle on Pereira.

Brazil's Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho tested Muslera with a late long-range strike but Uruguay's defence held firm.

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