Today, the Super Eagles were brought down to earth by Guinea Syli Stars after they lost 2-0 in a final 2023 AFCON warm-up game played behind closed doors at the Bani Yas Stadium in Dubai.
The Super Eagles fired 12 goals past Al Gharib of Dubai 12-0 in a training match Sunday afternoon only for them to come crashing down the following day.
Coach Jose Peseiro gave goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and midfielder Alhassan Yusuf their Super Eagles debut, while Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was rested as a strikers’ crisis has now hit the team.
Both Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho are battling to be fit for the AFCON, which starts this weekend in Abidjan.
Victor Boniface picked up a muscular injury in training in Dubai, while Iheanacho is sweating to be fit at his English club Leicester City.
Peseiro departed from the 4-4-2 formation he has favoured more recently to employ a 4-3-3 formation that had Chidozie Awaziem and Raphael Onyedika as pivots in midfield and Alhassan in an advanced attacking role, while Sadiq Umar led the strike force.
Super Eagles ended the first half a goal down after they fell behind in the 14th minute, when Guinea opened scores through Greece-based midfielder Aguibou Camara.
Moses Simon failed to draw Nigeria level in the 20th minute, when the Guinea goalkeeper saved his penalty kick.
That was after Sadiq Umar was brought down inside the box on his way to goal.
Both the Real Sociedad striker and Samuel Chukwueze had chances to restore parity, but they did not take the chances that fell their way.
Chidozie Awaziem was denied a goal by the impressive Guinean goalkeeper at the restart as Nigeria chased the game.
Despite the pressure to equalise, it was Guinea who doubled their lead on 64 minutes.
Scorer was young Bastia striker Facinet Conte.
Coach Peseiro freshened the attack late in the encounter by introducing Joe Aribo, Ademola Lookman and Ahmed Musa in place of Alhassan, Chukwueze and Moses Simon, but they could not register a goal.
Super Eagles Starting XI (4-3-3): Nwabali-Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu, Omeruo (Calvin Bassey), Ekong – Awaziem (Frank Onyeka), Onyedika (Alex Iwobi), Alhassan (Aribo 83)- Moses Simon (Lookman 83), Chukwueze (Ahmed Musa 83), Sadiq Umar
