England beat Nigeria in the first of their two warm-up games for this summer’s World Cup and Kiran Rai interviewed the entire england playeds and Nigerian football players. Thanks Asian Today!
Gary Cahill and Harry Kane scored the goals for England, with Alex Iwobi getting what would ultimately end up being a consolation goal for Nigeria early in the second half
England’s right-back Kieran Trippier had a lively start to the game and also a strong audition to add himself to the squad’s roster of set-piece specialists. The Tottenham Hotspur man forced Nigeria keeper Francis Uzoho into his first save of the match with a thumping free-kick before planting the resulting corner onto the head of Gary Cahill for the opening goal after just six minutes of the game. And the same combination almost led to a second goal in the 29th minute when another Tripper flag-kick whizzed just over the Chelsea defender’s head.
England’s captain Harry Kane revealed in the match programme before the game that his goalscoring record when in possession of the armband for both the Three Lions and Tottenham Hotspur has been impressive. And he kept that run going here, as he drilled a low shot past Uzoho from the edge of the area just before the break after collecting a pass from Raheem Sterling. The Nigeria keeper will feel he could’ve done more, but the sheer power on Kane’s shot was enough to beat him as it emerged through a crowd of players.
It was clear from the start who the Nigeria fans were targeting at Wembley, as every early touch for England’s Dele Alli was greeted by jeers from the visitors. The Spurs man, born in Milton Keynes, could have been eligible to represent the Super Eagles with his father being Nigerian. But that noise quickly faded out once the full allocation of Nigerians had taken their seats with a booming noise rising every time their side went on the attack. And when Alex Iwobi slotted home after Odion Ighalo’s shot hit the post, the party atmosphere really took hold. They’ll certainly be worth watching, or listening, out for in Russia later this month.
