Nigeria vs Tanzania: What went wrong, by Oliseh

Sunday Oliseh’s first game in charge of Nigeria will not live long in the memory as Tanzania deservedly secured a goalless draw in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D clash at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.

Oliseh disclosed that the Super Eagles’ result against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in the first leg was due to the team’s uncoordinated approach.

“We were disorganized in the first half but fared better in the second. In the second half we organized ourselves better but lacked that quality supply from midfield to attack. We will get better.

“We have to continue to build. We barely had two good days of training before this match so I am happy with the one point.”

He admitted that stand-in keeper Carl Ikeme who was equally playing his first match for the Super Eagles saved the day for Nigeria.

“I don’t like to single out players from the team but I have to admit that Carl Ikeme had a great game for us today,” Oliseh added.

Oliseh was charged with the task of replacing Stephen Keshi in July and the former Nigeria captain would have been expected to see off the minnows of Tanzania in his maiden competitive game at the helm.

As it was he was indebted to an assured display by debutant Ikeme, starting after captain Vincent Enyeama withdrew from the squad following the death of his mother, for pulling off some vital saves to deny the hosts their first win over Nigeria.

Nigeria also had their chances to make it two qualifying victories out of two, but had to settle for a point.

Oliseh would have seen plenty of room for improvement from a youthful Nigeria side as he attempts to guide his country to the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, having failed to qualify for this year’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea earlier this year.

Read also: Nigeria’s AFCON hope shaky as Tanzania forces Eagles to draw

Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike had an early opportunity to score his first international goal for almost two years when he headed Moses Simon’s free-kick wide 10 minutes in.

Ikeme was soon proving his worth by denying Farid Musa before keeping out a Mbwana Samatta free-kick as Tanzania made a promising start.

The hosts were given another warning when stand-in skipper Ahmed Musa’s shot was blocked just before the half-hour mark and Simon also came close following good work from the lively Musa.

Musa was a constant menace and the CSKA Moscow fired narrowly wide after a incisive run, then Oliseh ensured Emenike’s goal drought continues by replacing him with Anthony Ujah after 61 minutes.

The underdogs were scenting a shock victory and they came close to breaking the deadlock again after 64 minutes, when Mrisho Ngasa somehow headed wide to give Nigeria a let-off.

Thomas Ulimwengu again called Wolves keeper Ikeme into action as Nigeria remained on the back foot, but secured a point which puts them top of the group and got the Tanzania up and running following their defeat to Egypt.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now