Nigeria wrapped up their international friendly window with a 2-2 draw against Jordan in the final game of the ‘Amman Series’.
The mini-tournament, which also featured Costa Rica and Iran, was originally scheduled to be held in Amman, the Jordanian capital, but was relocated to Antalya, Turkey, due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Iran, courtesy of goals from Moses Simon and Akor Adams.
In their second outing on Tuesday, the Super Eagles came from behind to lead through Moses Simon‘s equaliser before Emmanuel Fernandez, in only his second appearance for the national team, put Nigeria in front. Jordan, however, fought back to share the spoils.
In this wrap-up, Footy-Africa teamed up with former Nigeria youth international Simon Zenke to identify the three players who shone brightest across both games and three who failed to hit the expected standard.
Best Performers
Moses Simon
“I thought he was one of the best players across the two games. His tireless running and willingness to track back and help the defence stood out throughout. He also chipped in with two goals against Iran and Jordan to round off a really good window for him personally. What impressed me most was how committed he was in both directions – attacking and defending with the same energy.”
“I’ll give him an 8/10.”
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Emmanuel Fernandez
“He looked a little shaky for a few minutes on his debut in the first game, but once the nerves settled, he was excellent. Aerially, he was a monster – hardly ever beaten in the air, particularly in the second game against Jordan, which he started. He showed great composure on the ball and made some important tackles too. I think he has well and truly cemented his place in this squad.”
“I’ll rate him 7/10.”
Frank Onyeka
“The midfield enforcer sid extremely well with his energy in the middle of the park – tough in the tackle and always there to relieve pressure when Nigeria needed it. He wasn’t flashy, but he was efficient and got on with the job quietly and effectively. I think he is gradually becoming one of the leaders in this team, both through his quality and the way he tries to lift those around him. His hard work genuinely impressed me.”
“I’ll give him a 7/10.”
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Worst Performers
Ademola Lookman
“He was a shadow of himself in both games and fell well below the standard we know he is capable of. Lookman held onto the ball too long and struggled to release it at the right moment to get Nigeria moving. He also gave possession away too cheaply on a number of occasions against both Iran and Jordan. Not one of his better outings in a Super Eagles shirt.”
“I think he gets a 5/10 for me.”
Bright Osayi-Samuel
“The right back simply couldn’t find his rhythm in either game – defensively or going forward, he never really got going. He lost his marker a few times and was caught for pace on more than one occasion. I know he is a far better player than what we saw, particularly against Jordan, but this was not a good window for him at all.”
“For him, I’ll rate him at 5/10.”
Zaidu Sanusi
“The left back didn’t impress me either, and that surprised me a little given that he started the Jordan game fresh and should have been sharper than most. In my opinion, he was at fault for Jordan’s equaliser, and he also failed to track back on a few occasions when Nigeria were under pressure. He’s a quality player – we all know that, but the Zaidu we saw here was not the Zaidu we’re used to. Hopefully he bounces back next time out.”
“I will give him a 4/10.”
