By Amosu Adeboye, LAGOS
Joe Aribo hauled all the positive headlines after scoring on his second appearance for Nigeria with Brazil coming from behind to hold the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw on Sunday night at the Singapore National Stadium.
It proved a fitting result for the battling Rohr’s men who have now heaped more pressure on the Selecao who have now gone four games without a win since winning the 2019 COPA America on home soil last July.
Aribo received well Moses Simon’s teasing pass inside the Brazilian box, shoved off his markers before finding the back of the net. That was exactly on 35th minute of the first half which the Nigerians stoutly held onto until half time.
Super Eagles were bold, bright, and daring in the opening stages. Brazil goalkeeper, Ederson was called up to show his stuff early on but the Selecao gradually came back into full dominion.
The five time World Champions bossed their young Africans with crisp, slow paced game.
Francis Uzoho, enjoyed tremendous cover from stand in captain, William Troost Ekong, who time and again, blocked and stopped the daring South Americans, especially Firmino, Neymar and Arthur.
The Nigerians, for once, showed patience, organisation, shape and confidence in absorbing, soaking all the Brazilians threw at them.
But all that changed in the 35th minute. Iwobi connected a long ball from the right, shoved aside his markers before setting up debutant, Aribo, who zig-zagged his way into the box before releasing a righted effort into the bottom corner.
Tite’s men, now clearly under immense pressure, refused to pull off the throttle even as the half time whistle came with Nigeria in the driving seat.
Tite altered his attacking strategy soon before the second period got underway. And expectedly, Brazil continued from where they left off in the previous period and clearly got the breakthrough just three minutes after the restart.
And it has to be Real Madrid strongman, Casemiro who hauled Brazil back into the game with a cool finish after the Nigerian defenders were found lost in their own box when the ball crashed against the crossbar.
Brazil came close to taking the lead for the first time in the game on 56th minute but Uzoho made a save of extraordinary quality, going down low and early enough to deny Coutinho.
Three minutes on, Casemiro headed against the crossbar from a Neymar lovely delivered corner kick with Uzoho landing wrongly to pick an injury.
He was consequently replaced by Maduka Okoye, making his debut for Nigeria.
Just after the ‘water break’, Brazil came close to taking the lead when they burst from the right flank but a split second touch on the ball by Awaziem saw the Brazilians earn their 7th corner kick on the night.
The Samba Boys were amazingly wasteful this half and that should be a worry for Tite.
As the stalemate continued and Brazil showing more urgency and drive for goal, Rohr withdrew Alex Iwobi for Ramon Azeez with just seven minutes remaining.
Chukwueze came close to restoring Nigeria’s lead on 86th minute with a rising strike from the near post but Brazil keeper, Ederon gathered on second attempt.
