Eagles labour to 2-0 win over Zambia

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi recorded his first win in two games on Tuesday as the Uche brothersKalu and Ikechukwugave Nigeria a 2-0 victory over the visiting Chipolopolo of Zambia in Kaduna.The friendly encounter was to prepare the Zambians ahead of their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The Eagles are in the rebuilding process under Keshi.Unlike the first friendly which ended goalless against Botswana on Saturday, Keshi opted to start with VVV Venlo attacking midfielder Ahmed Musa in place of Hoffeinhams Ogbuke Obasi. Musa, a former Kano Pillars player, did not disappoint.Nigeria went on the offensive right from the beginning, making a number of incursions into the Zambians defence. It paid off in the ninth minute when Kalu latched on a cross from Musa to record Nigerias first goal.The Eagles led with a lone goal until the last minute of the game when Ikechukwu took his time to displace two Zambian defenders to net the second goal.The score line could have been different had both sides converted their chances as they beat each others defences with deft passes throughout the game.Zambia dominated the second half of the game by overwhelming Nigerian defence which appeared at that moment to lack cohesion. The substitution of Fulhams Dickson Etuhu and Adeleye gave the Zambians more room to operate in the midfield but substitute goalkeeper Austin Ejide survived the incursions to keep a clean sheet in the game.While Eagles captain Joseph Yobo equalled 86 cap record set by Muda Lawal and Nwankwo Kanu, Poland-based Ugochukwu Ukah and Nigerian league top scorer, Jude Aneke, made their debut for Nigeria.
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