By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s Super Eagles salvaged a 2-2 draw against Algeria’s home-based players who are preparing for the 2023 CHAN tournament to be hosted by the country in 2023.
The match was played behind closed doors in Constantine, Algeria on Friday night.
Algeria went ahead through Karim Aribi in the 33rd minute – his sixth strike in seven games this season before the Eagles drew level in the second half when the home team changed their entire starting XI.
The introduction of the in-form Everton FC midfielder Alex Iwobi and Cremonese striker Cyril Dessers in the second half changed the game for Nigeria.
Both players scored to put the Super Eagles 1-2 before Aymen Mahious leveled the game to end the game 2-2.
The Nigerian side were leading at some point in the match before Algeria’s Aymen Mahious drew Algeria level to end the encounter on a stalemate.
The Algerian team then had opportunities to restore the lead but failed to convert their chances.
Peseiro handed Club Brugge midfielder, Rapheal Nwadike and Ebube Duru their first start in the encounter while he also recalled the trio Maduka Okoye, Chidozie Awaziem and Taiwo Awoniyi into the squad.
He also named Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Valentine Ozornwafor, Chidozie Awaziem, Frank Onyeka, Chidera Ejuke, Ademola Lookman and Taiwo Awoniyi in the starting line-up.
Francis Uzoho, Adeleye Adebayo, Zaidu Sanusi, Dessers, Saviour Godwin, Terem Moffi, Kevin Akpoguma, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Kenneth Omeruo also took part in the second half.
The match serves as test games for both the Algeria side who are preparing for the CHAN tournament in January 2023 and the Super Eagles who are preparing for the AFCON also in January of 2024.
The Super Eagles will still play the Algeria main side on Tuesday September 27, 2022 in Oran before the players jet out to their various European club sides.
