CHEI.....IHEANACHO AGAIN........NIGERIA 1 MALI 0

I said it that this guy is too much....The Manchester City man scored for the Super Eagles in Friday’s friendly in Rouen as the former African champions began preparations for the 2018 World Cup

Nigeria defeated Mali 1-0 in Friday’s international friendly in Rouen, France, with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho getting his first goal for the Super Eagles as they began preparations for their 2018 World Cup qualifiers.


The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in their last game in March and it was important to get a positive result from this game.
Coach Salisu Yusuf chose to keep Iheanacho on the bench while he handed starting places to Alex Iwobi, Odion Ighalo and Moses Simon in attack. William Troost-Ekong also made it into the team despite his Norwegian cup game as he paired with Leon Balogun who also returned to the side.
Musa Muhammed and Kingsley Madu started in the full back positions as Ogenyi Onazi captained the side in the absence of both John Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa.
Etebo Oghenekaro and Shehu Abdullahi played in midfield and Carl Ikeme returned to goal after missing Nigeria’s last game against Egypt due to stomach cramps.
There was to be no goal in the first half and coach Salisu made key change of personnel afterwards.
He brought on striker Brown Ideye for his first Super Eagles appearance for more than three years as well as Michael Babatunde and Raheem Lawal. Defender Gbenga Arokoyo also came on late for his debut.
It was substitute Iheanacho, on for Iwobi, who scored for the Nigerians after an assist by Babatunde in the 77th minute.
Nigeria would play another friendly with Luxembourg on May 31 in continuation of preparations for the Russia 2018 qualifiers.