Former Super Eagles defender, Brian Idowu, has reserved special praise for goalkeeper Maduka Okoye following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly.
The match, held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday, saw both teams settle for a share of the spoils after a lively contest.
Russia took the lead in the 27th minute when Nigeria’s Semi Ajayi inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
The Super Eagles, however, responded quickly through Tolu Arokodare, who found the back of the net shortly after replacing Victor Boniface.
Despite being on the back foot for much of the encounter, Nigeria managed to hold off their hosts thanks in large part to a solid performance from Okoye.
The Udinese shot-stopper made a string of crucial saves, particularly in the second half, to keep Valery Karpin’s men at bay.
Reflecting on the game, Idowu, a member of Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, acknowledged the Russian team’s superiority on the night.
“I think Russia played better and deserved the victory more,” Idowu told Match TV.
“At the end, the Russians actually had more scoring chances, but their execution let them down a bit and Maduka Okoye saved and bailed out the boys very well. At the end, there were some fights and moments,” he added.
The draw brought mixed feelings, but Okoye’s standout display ensured the Super Eagles avoided defeat in Moscow.
