Nigeria 3-1 Sudan: Four major takeaways for Super Eagles
The Super Eagles are currently cruising at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cameroon with twin wins from two matches.
Their 3-1 win over The Falcons of Sudan was the icing on the cake despite conceding its first goal of the tournament from the spot.
With a place in the knockout stage assured, below are the four major takeaways from Saturday's game.
1. Super Eagles Are Still Work In Progress
Most fans here may have been tipping Nigeria as the likely potential of the tournament alongside Morocco given the way they brushed aside Egypt and Sudan, but sorry, coach Austin Eguavoen isn't convincing anyone. Game after game, the message is the same: would everybody just calm down because we are not there yet. But, day after day after day, the response is the same from the fans no one is taking the slightest bit of notice.
Eguavoen is not counting his eggs before they are hatched, and he kept saying that every team that made it to Cameroon deserves to win the coveted trophy. Cerezo knows how to keep a low profile and that has helped his team a great deal.
2. Kenneth Omeruo Has Helped Steadied The Ship In The Defense.
Super Eagles' defence may have conceded its first goal of the tournament from the spot, Kenneth Omeruo is fast becoming one of the revelations of the tournament. His ability to win most tackles as well aerial duels against Sudan kept Super Eagles in the match after Sudan piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer.
Nigeria does not solely owe its dominance against Sudan to the attacking panache and brilliance of Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, and Taiwo Awoniyi, Super Eagles have substance and desire in abundance, and no player in their ranks has more of the gladiatorial strength about himself than Kenneth Omeruo.
Cool as cucumbers against Sudan, the FC Leganes center-back has helped reduce Ekong's mistakes at the back and Nigeria cannot do without his fighting spirit, extraordinary mental strength, and capacity to rise to the big occasion -such as his effort in Super Eagles
3. Sadiq Umar Is Gradually Playing Himself Out of The Team
The UD Almeria striker may be regarded as one of the best finishers in the Spanish Segunda Division, but Umar has been pigeonholed as an incorrigible wayward youngster by Super Eagles manager, Austin Eguavoen who lamented over the striker's failure to play according to instruction.
Just like the game against Egypt, Sadiq failed to stick to the game plan and that might pave way for other players to take his place in subsequent matches
4 Moses Simon Has Hit Top Form
The FC Nantes winger seems to be consistent with his game at the ongoing African Cup of Nations and has hit top form just at the right time.
An uncompromising character who takes on a defender at will is fast becoming the shining light of the Nigerian side, and Super Eagles' steady progress in the competition will owe much to the work ethic and sense of sacrifice of Moses Simon.
