The encounter between Nigeria and Portugal ended in 4-0 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon as the Super Eagles gave a timid performance that had fans even questioning their credentials.
BRL will look at the individual performance of the Nigerian players, rating them accordingly
Francis Uzoho (3.5)
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho got the nod as first choice and he had a good game. Despite the big defeat, there was little or nothing he could have done to keep out the goals.
It could have easily been more but Uzoho made good saves.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (6.0)
Bright Osayi-Samuel was left with a bitter sweet feeling on his national team debut, especially in an encounter that had everything a defender would not hope for.
Despite the team conceding four goals Osayi Samuel was the only positive from the night’s encounter and gave a performance that left fans wanting for more.
He was Nigeria’s most lively player and atoned for giving away a first half penalty by winning one for the team.
William Troost-Ekong (2.5)
The captain on the night, he had a very busy game and spent almost the entirety of the encounter defending however it was a difficult night for the Watford man as he alongside his partner Kevin Akpoguma struggled to deal with the Opposition’s attack.
However Ekong was strong in the air and thwarted Portugal’s aerial treat but lost his footing and was caught out of position numerous time.
Kevin Akpoguma (2.0)
Kevin Akpoguma was also as culpable as most of his teammates, but could have shown more character and be more aggressive when called into action.
The center defense struggled to cope with the wing play of the Portuguese and was caught napping on multiple occasions.
Calvin Bassey (1.5)
Calvin Bassey had a night to forget in Lisbon and just didn’t seem to get anything right, his positional awareness was highly questionable and was left for dead on numerous occasions as he struggled to deal with the Marauding forward runs Diogo Dalot or the cross in-behind from Bernardo Silva.
On the ball he wasn’t assured and was mostly in an hurry to release the ball leading to him giving away the ball on multiple occasions.
Wilfred Ndidi (1)
He had a game to forget and barely got going for the team and made little or no contribution in the middle of the pack. The midfielder was terribly out played by the likes of Otavio, William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandez. Ndidi lasted only 45 minutes and was one of the two players hauled off at half time.
Without doubt one of the more disappointing performances on the night as he failed to press and was caught napping on numerous occasions as the game just went past him hence his 1.0 rating.
Joe Aribo (2.0)
Joseph Aribo showed plenty of zeal and desire in the middle of the pack and brought energy but it was not enough against the technically gifted Portuguese Midfield and despite an improved second half performance he was taken off by Jose Peseiro.
Alex Iwobi (2.0)
For all his technical abilities, Iwobi was not aided by his teammates and could do little in terms of orchestrating play and finding the final pass; He spent most part of the encounter defending rather than attacking.
Ademola Lookman (2.0)
Ademola Lookman will definitely not look back fondly at this encounter, he was starved of the ball for most of the first half.
Wingers need a lot of the ball in advanced positions to wreck havoc, it was quite unfortunate that Lookman didn’t see enough of the ball and was hauled off at half time.
Moses Simon (4.5)
Only if Simon could put in a decent cross or made better decisions in the final third. The winger won’t be blamed for not trying and showed a lot of purpose and desire anytime he was on the ball.
But I think it’s high time we get for ourselves another set piece taker for the National team as Simon obviously doesn’t not make the cut.
He did force a save off Rui Patricio and was one of the team’s best performers.
Terem Moffi (2.5)
Jose Peseiro started Moffi ahead of Paul Onuachu, and looking at the current form of both strikers, I am sure any would have deserved to start. But, Moffi was mostly isolated in attack and forced to feed on scraps.
He also doesn’t pose the aerial threat of Victor Osimhen and Onuachu and was lost until he came off in the 58th minute. In general he was lively and willing to press hence his 2.5 rating
SUBSTITUTES
Samuel Chukwueze (4.0)
The Winger was the best player off the bench for Nigeria and looked threatening, pinning back Raphael Guerreiro and even pulled a great save off Rui Patricio With a well-worked piece of play.
His 4.0 rating is the third highest on the night which goes on to show how well he performed.
Frank Onyeka (2.0)
A substitute off the bench for Wilfred Ndidi at the start of the second half and brought more energy but he switched off alongside his teammates late in the second half and that was all he contributed to the encounter.
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