Nigeria 1-1 Algeria: Super Eagles Finish Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifiers Unbeaten

FULL-TIME: ALGERIA 1-1 NIGERIA .

This means the Super Eagles of Nigeria keeps unbeaten record in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers which ended with the Algeria match.

Though it wasn’t the prettiest of performances from Nigeria, but they showed good grit and determination to hold Algeria who picked up their only point of the campaign.

The home side defended well and showed good desire to get forward, but, in the end, they were unable to muster up enough to beat the Super Eagles. The thrilling match ended 1-1.

See the match live update below

FULL-TIME: ALGERIA 1-1 NIGERIA

90′ The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.

88′ Penalty Goal Yacine Brahimi. The FC Porto man sends goalkeeper Ezenwa the wrong way. And scores is even now.

88′ Yellow card Baghdad Bounedjah

84′ Henry Onyekuru almost made it two but his effort is deflected for a corner kick.

83′ Yellow card Oghenekaro Etebo

81′ Substitution Alex Iwobi Ahmed Musa….. Algeria players look frustrated as Nigeria patiently knock the ball around as they try to carve out a chance on goal, but, after doing well to charge towards the penalty area, a poor pass from Iheanacho completely misses Etebo and rolls harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

79′ STAT: Since 1973 Algeria and Nigeria have met 19 times, with the Super Eagles winning eight times, losing seven and drawing four.

78′ Yellow card Yacine Brahimi

76′ Substitution Ismael Bennacer Baghdad Bounedjah

72 Algeria desperately try to carve out a chance on goal as they patiently move the ball around on the edge of the Nigeria penalty area. Slimani is eventually able to wriggle away from his marker before teeing up Bennacer, but the hiss crosscum-shot fails to trouble Ezenwa.

67′ Goodness! Slimani misses a begging chance despite needing to put the ball into an empty net. That should be the worst of the World Cup qualifying series.

64′ Substitution Riyad Mahrez Sofiane Hanni

65′ Half way through to the second half Algeria missed to begging chances which could have given them the lead in the ongoing chance but they could not convert the begging chances.

62′ Goal John Ogochukwu Ogu ( His left-footed missile outside the Algeria goal area sails into the net. What a strike!

61′ What a miss from Mandi who heads over the bar after the ball slips off Ikechukwu Ezenwa’s hands. He could have done better as such opportunity don’t come all the time

58′ Goalkeeper Ezenwa is back on his feet after falling awkwardly in an attempt to halt the Algerians attacking forays. Madjer’s men restarts with a cornerkick and Nigeria clear out of the danger zone.

56′ Yellow card Islam Slimani

55′ There’s more of an urgency about Nigeria at the start of this second half. Nwakaeme and Iwobi have swapped flanks and are seeing more of the ball as the visitors adopt a nice width to their approach. Iwobi forces goalkeeper Chaouchi to make a good catch

52′ Missed chance for Algeria as Islam Slimani’s shot is deflected for a cornerkick. He receives a quick pass from Mahrez and his attempt to pull the trigger was weakened by captain Leon Balogun

49′ Yacine Brahimi finds his way in Nigeria’s goal area but was checkmated by William Troost-Ekong. Brahimi falls but the referee ignores the penalty appeal as Ezenwa makes a simple catch.

47′ Iwobi missed a close range chance which could have given the Super Eagles a lead but no thanks to the bad pitch as he was unable to give the final pass need to connect the play to the net.

Action has resumes for the second 45 minutes in the ongoing Nigeria versus Algeria final leg World Cup qualifer in Algeria.

It was inspiring 45 minutes of football but no side has been able to break the deadlock.

Nigeria has 54% of possession at first half.

45 +1′ HALF-TIME: ALGERIA 0-0 NIGERIA

45′ There will be just one minute added on at the end of this first half.

43′ Kelechi Iheanacho goes so close with his nice free-kick but Chaouchi makes a simple catch. The Leicester city forward has scored seven goals in his last ten matches for Nigeria

42′ Yellow card John Ogochukwu Ogu

39′ Nwakaeme, who has had to endure a difficult opening half an hour, desperately tries to muscle his way into the Algeria penalty area from the right wing, but Cadamuro sticks close to the striker and does well to force him into knocking the ball out for a goal-kick.

36′ Algeria get a free-kick after Oghenekaro Etebo carelessly brings down captain Brahimi. The game looks very boring which one could attribute to the ‘dead-rubber’ status of this encounter. Kudos must be given to the home fans for trooping out in their numbers to cheer their team.

33′ Good defensive work from Abdullahi Shehu who denies the Algerians from taking the lead. The Super Eagles defence looks shaky and they have to sit up else get punished by the wounded Foxes.

30′ Substitution Chemseddine Nessakh Ayoub Abdellaoui

23′ It’s very much been a case of defence first for both sides, who are careful not to give up the opening that might lead to the game’s first goal. Both sides have shown some initiative going forward, but it’s clear where the priority is at the moment. Carl Medjani fouls John Ogu and a chance for Gernot Rohr’s men to build from the middle

20 Etebo and Shehu link-up encouragingly down the right. The Cyprus based man shows great strength and persistence to keep play alive before feeding a ball through for the full-back on the overlap, but his shot goes straight into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi

17 Mahrez finds his way in the Super Eagles penalty area but easily dispossessed by his Leicester City teammates, Wilfried Ndidi. Still a goalless affair in Constantine.

8 Algeria continue to enjoy the bulk of possession, but they’re being kept to the perimeter by a nicely organised Nigeria side. The hosts are keeping their shape very well and they’ve allowed next to no space in the centre, as Slimani remains incredibly isolated up top.

5 Etebo holds up the ball well in the middle of the pitch and spins before picking out an Algerian over on the right wing. He darts down the flank on a marauding run before slicing a cross-cum-shot into the penalty area, but it’s poorly hit and sails wide of the far post.

2 Good early pressure from the Desert Foxes who try to get the curtain raiser. Islam Slimani getting so close but his effort could not beat goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa .

1 And we’re off! Algeria get us underway, attacking from left to right.

The match has finally kick off. The Nigeria side is captained by Germany born Leon Balogun. The host Algeria is playing from right to left.

The Super Eagles starting 11 are; EZENWA; Shehu, Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Aina; Ndidi, Ogu, Etebo; Iwobi, Iheanacho, Nwakaeme

During the pre match ceremony at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui the Nigeria’s national anthem went live first before the Algeria’s.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria has set the target to finish their World Cup 2018 Qualifiers campaign unbeaten.

Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr and Skipper Mikel John Obi has said this as the squad welcomed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Algeria, His Excellency Demenongu Agev at the Hotel Novotel in Constantine.

”It is true that a team cannot win all the time, but we will give our very best on Friday,” said Rohr to thenff.com

The senior national team squad will at 8;30pm(Nigeria Time) file out for the last leg of their qualifier game for Russia 2018 in a match against Algeria.

”There are some players who have been eager to get opportunity to play and some of them will get the opportunity on Friday, and I am sure they will not disappoint,” Rohr said ahead ot tonight match.
He further explained that, “We already have the FIFA World Cup ticket but we have prepared for this match in the same way we prepared for the previous matches in the qualifying series.”

Skipper Mikel Obi, who will win his 80th cap for Nigeria if selected to play at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui, said the team is focused on finishing the race without a loss.

”We don’t want to lose any match; we will go to the field looking for a win. Matches between Nigeria and Algeria are always big, and we cannot afford to take things for granted.”

The Eagles had trained at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui, where Friday’s match will take place, starting at 8.30pm Algeria time.