Afcon 2019: Nigeria vs South Africa Player Ratings, Chukwueze Wins MOTM, Iwobi, Ekong, Etebo, Ndidi Shine

Afcon 2019: Nigeria vs South Africa Player Ratings, Chukwueze Wins MOTM, Iwobi, Ekong Shine

By Admin

Following Super Eagles starling performance against Bafana Bafana of South African in the quarterfinals of the 2019 African Nations Cup, we looked into each Eagles player and were rated according to their performance on Wednesday night at Cairo International Stadium.

Daniel Akpeyi: 4/10
Had very little to do, and the trajectory of the header for South Africa’s goal meant there was little he could have done to prevent it. However, on the ball, his distribution was poor, as he consistently failed to find the target with his goal-kicks and clearances.

Chidozie Awaziem: 6/10
Virtually unbeatable in defence on the night for Nigeria. Handled Thembinkosi Lorch with ease, and did the same to Percy Tau when the highly-rated attacker switched over to his flank. Got forward well too, but gave the ball away needlessly on a number of occasions.

William Troost-Ekong: 7/10
Big contribution at a key moment with the goal. Dealt with Lebo Mothiba quite well physically, both on the ground and in the air, and his passing was of a consistently high quality over the course of the match. Unflustered throughout.

Kenneth Omeruo: 6/10

Complemented his centre-back partner well as their understanding continues to improve, and showed the right aggression to enable the team play with a higher defensive line. Also impressed with his distribution from the back.

Jamilu Collins: 5/10
Playing his first match of the tournament, the brief must have been to keep it simple and stick to his task. He did that fairly comfortably, and was never caught out. A good showing to feel his way back into match sharpness.

Wilfred Ndidi: 5.5/10
Crucial in cutting off the middle of the pitch, and covered a ridiculous amount of ground. A potential black mark against in the amount of fouls he gave away, and he does need to pick his moments a little better.

Oghenekaro Etebo: 5/10
Had a superb free-kick turned onto the crossbar, which was unfortunate. His passing is still a concern, as it lacks the requisite vision, and is often delayed too long. His energy, however, works brilliantly in tandem with Ndidi’s.

Samuel Chukwueze: 7.5/10
Handed a start here, and did not disappoint. Took up a great position to score the opener, troubled Sifiso Hlanti all night long, and showed great touch. If he learns to play with his head up more, and gets better movement around him, there is no telling what he is capable of.

Alex Iwobi: 7/10
The conductor of the team’s attacks. Everything seemed to flow through him today. He was vital in creating the opener, and helped the side transition with strong runs from deep positions and measured passing into the channels.

Ahmed Musa: 4.5/10
His pace creates so much danger, but he does not always cash the cheque. His one-footedness limits his output greatly, and he was often tentative when given the opportunity to shoot, electing to pass the ball rather than take on the responsibility.

Odion Ighalo: 4/10
His lack of movement can be infuriating and this was one of those occasions. Did not get the better of his marker(s), and did not get into the channels to offer an outlet as the team struggled in the second-half. His failure to anticipate a teasing Chukwueze cross was a particular low-light.

Moses Simon: 5/10
Came on, failed to beat his marker consistently, but then flighted in two corners. The first did not clear the front post; the second was turned in by Troost-Ekong. Was such an important moment, and a game-changing contribution.

Leon Balogun: N/A
Came on too late for a proper rating.

Credit; Goal.com