World cup preparation hots up as Super Eagles play doubleheader friendlies

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One of the things the Amaju Pinnick led NFF team worth receiving commendation for is making the most of the international break to set up top grade friendly matches for the Super Eagles even as they look to get the national football team in top gear for the Russia 2018 world cup starting in June. In the light of this the Super Eagles are billed to face Poland and Serbia on Friday, 23rd of March and Tuesday, 27th of March, 2018 respectively.

The game against the Polish national football team present the Eagles- especially the defense- a sterner test as they will be aiming to curtail the onslaught of Robert Lewandoski who registered a total of sixteen (16) goals on the road to Russia 2018. The team is however not about Lewandoski alone as coach Adam Nawalka also has the likes of Jakub Blaszcykowski, Lukasz Piszcek and a couple of prolific players in his arsenal. And just for the records; both teams have an untainted record against each other as this is only the first time they will be meeting.

On the other hand; the match against Serbia will be yet another quality friendly match that should afford coach Gernot Rohr the opportunity to further to assess the forms of his players, and probably try out some new formations. Going by their performances in the qualifying rounds for the world cup, one would have seen that the Serbian team is a balanced one; capable of turning in the goals and holding their lines as well- the team will no doubt put the Super Eagles in good stead for the footballing masterpiece in Russia. The game will take place at the Hive Barnet FC Stadium in London by 7pm on Tuesday.

@Olumide-Adekogbe

The Super Eagles of Nigeria ran out winners as they defeated the Polish national team by one goal to nil. The game looked evenly poised as both teams looked to sized each other up but it was the Poles who kept asking questions of the Eagles defence and it only took a goal-line clearance [by Leon Balogun] to keep them from going forward. The Poles' star man, Robert Lewandoski even hit a shot against the woodwork in the first half but it has to be said that the Eagles were yet able to hold their heads high; dominating possession at some points in time.

The second was nonetheless action-packed as the Poles [being spurred by the home crowd] push to break the deadlock, and that looked certain as Lewandoski went one-on-one against the Nigerian goalie, Francis Uzoho who was able to keep his composure to avert danger and prevent the star striker from burying the ball in the back of the net- a feat that could go a long way in boosting the confidence of the young goalkeeper who appeared jittery in the first half.

Although Nigeria might have not had so much joy in the final third but they were not to be denied the last laugh as Victor Moses won a penalty which he eventually converted in the 61st minute. The Eagles were able to hold out for their famous win against the Poles- in the first ever match between both sides- who are the 6th best football playing nation in the world.

Coach Gernot Rohr and his men will now be looking to take this form into the next game against Serbia- who lost out to Morocco by 2 goals to one in a friendly played on Friday- on Tuesday.