Nigeria’s Super Eagles B were held to a 0-0 draw by Zanzibar in a pre-CHAN friendly on Monday at the Amaan Stadium.
It was a frustrating evening for Eric Chelle’s team, who had most of the ball but failed to turn their dominance into goals.
Solid at the Back, But No Final Touch
The Nigerian squad featured Ani Ozoemena in goal, with defenders Sodiq Ismail, Junior Nduka, Leo Ngenge, and Taiwo Abdulrafiu providing a steady backline.
The midfield, led by Michael Tochukwu, also included Harrison Uzondu, Haruna Hadi, and A. Olamilekan. Sikiru Alimi and Anthony Ijoma started up front.
From the start, Nigeria controlled the game and pressed high. Tochukwu stood out with his clean passes and sharp decision-making in the middle, helping his team keep pressure on Zanzibar. But the home side stayed compact and closed down spaces in the final third.
The Super Eagles’ best chance came in the 65th minute when Ijoma’s powerful header forced a brilliant save from Zanzibar’s goalkeeper. It was the closest Nigeria came to scoring in a match filled with missed chances and poor finishing.
Zanzibar also had a big moment in the first half. In the 32nd minute, they caught Nigeria on the break, but Ozoemena was alert and made a strong save to deny them.
At the back, Abdulrafiu and Ngenge put in a good shift, keeping Zanzibar quiet and breaking up their attacks. But despite the defensive discipline and overall control, Nigeria’s forwards could not find the finishing touch.
Chelle’s young squad showed flashes of promise, but they will need to be more decisive in attack as the CHAN tournament draws closer. Their inability to create clear chances and convert pressure into goals was the biggest concern from this outing.
