Nigeria/Algeria: Algeria 2-1 Nigeria Player Ratings - Moffi Shines As Eagles Lose Fourth Consecutive Match to Algeria

Soccer ball.
28 September 2022

Moffi excelled as Coach Peseiro found out more about his players as they prepare for the 2023 AFCON

The Super Eagles debuted the new 'Adire' jersey and lost 2-1 to the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

The match was a tight affair, not helped by the biased nature of the centre referee though it made the match a complete lesson for Coach Jose Peseiro as he beds down to creating a formidable Eagles team for the 2023 Nations Cup tournament.

Though the referee was not the best, the Eagles also had lapses in their technical output, a point Peseiro alluded to in a post-match interview.

For the first time, Calvin Bassey (22) and Kevin Akpoguma (27) started together as the central defensive pairing. Also, two left-footed forwards-Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi started together as the offensive pairing.

Here are the ratings of the players against Algeria on 27 September at Stade Olympique d'Oran.

NameAgeMinsRatingDescription

Francis Uzoho23905.5/10Uzoho should have saved Youcef Atal's shot, even though he should have expected his defenders to block it. He still had time to adjust to the flight and make a save. Peseiro's Eagles are undoubtedly looking for a goalkeeper who exudes confidence and can help the team improve.

Ola Aina2590 6/10Aina was his usual self, comfortable on the ball and in defensive duels. He didn't go forward as often as he would have liked because Algeria had more than 60% of ball possession.

Kevin Akpoguma2790 5/10Maybe he was nervous on Tuesday, but Akpoguma did not look like an elite defender against Algeria. Though neither of the two goals was the result of his errors, the Algerians took advantage of his lack of composure and lax positioning.

Calvin Bassey22906.5/10His positional sense and flexibility were evident throughout the game, indicating that his move to Ajax is already paying off. He was at ease in one-on-one situations and excelled at playing the ball out of defence. A firm fixture for the Eagles for many years.

Zaidu Sanusi25902022-10-06 00:00:00If he can improve his last ball, Sanusi has the potential to become a thoroughbred left back. His final touch let him and his team down at least three times. The Porto defender was not intimidated by Riyad Mahrez and was defensively sound throughout the game.

Frank Onyeka2490 6/10He did a good job of containing the Algerian midfielders, and his only mistake was going full pelt to give the referee an excuse to award a penalty. He was disciplined and straightforward in his defensive work and distribution of the ball.

Alex Iwobi2690 6/10Iwobi's approach was a little hesitant, but that could be because he played a more defensive role in the 4-4-2 formation. The Everton midfielder tried to be offensive at all times and always looked for a forward pass.

Moses Simon2790 6/10Simon was captaining the side for a second time and he was all action throughout the encounter.

Ademola Lookman2483 5/10He scored a perfectly good goal that was disallowed, but he was also largely pedestrian for large swathes of the game.

Terem Moffi2345 7/10Moffi, who has six goals in Ligue 1, took his goal with a predatory sense. His ball control was excellent, and he created opportunities for his teammates. He is generally good in many aspects of the game and is demonstrating that he will be the most likely partner for Victor Osimhen in the future.

Kelechi Iheanacho2590 5/10Iheanacho's first shot resulted in Moffi's goal, and he had four more shots on goal, but aside from these, it was difficult to see how the Leicester City forward influenced the game.

Substitutes

Saviour Godwin26252022-10-05 00:00:00The Casa Pia forward attempted some darting runs down the right, and a mishit cross nearly turned into an unlikely equaliser late on.

Taiwo Awoniyi25182022-10-04 00:00:00If Peseiro was expecting an offensive energy boost, he didn't get it from Awoniyi, who may lose his spot on the team in the future.

Cyriel Dessers275 NANot enough time for quality assessment

Raphael Onyedika215 NANot enough time for quality assessment

Manager

Jose Peseiro62 6/10Even though the Eagles relied more on the counter-attack, the team is more organised. He was also willing to confront the officials when he felt his team was being unfairly punished.

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