Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi says the Super Eagles dominated Poland for long stretches of their entertaining 2-2 draw in Warsaw, but acknowledged that a tendency to sit back in the second half ultimately cost Nigeria the victory they deserved, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Besiktas midfielder captained Nigeria for the full 90 minutes at the PGE Narodowy Stadium on Wednesday night, one of only three players — alongside goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and debutant Abdullahi Bewene — to play every minute of the contest.
It was also a personal landmark for Ndidi, who became the only player on the pitch to have featured in the last time these two sides met, a 1-0 Nigeria win in Wroclaw back in March 2018.
“It was a good game, a brilliant game,” Ndidi said.
“We dominated the game. First half was an amazing game, and second half we tried to sit back a bit, to defend a bit and then press. Entirely, it was a good game.”
Nigeria had taken the lead in the 23rd minute through Terem Moffi, who finished from close range after a move that began with Ndidi driving forward from midfield and releasing Moses Simon down the left flank. Okoye was kept busy at the other end, producing an important save before Tochukwu Nnadi went close to doubling the lead, only to be denied by a fine stop.
The advantage did not last. Deep into first-half stoppage time, 18-year-old Kacper Potulski capitalised on a defensive lapse from a corner to bundle Poland level, sending both sides into the break at 1-1.
Chelle responded with seven changes at the interval, and Nigeria regained control. Okoye denied Robert Lewandowski with an excellent save as Poland threatened, and the Eagles eventually retook the lead in the 80th minute when Paul Onuachu converted from the spot after a VAR-spotted handball.
Okoye then produced two more saves to protect the lead, but Przemyslaw Wisniewski’s thunderous long-range effort in the 95th minute rescued a draw for the hosts.
Despite the late setback, Chelle’s unbeaten run in regulation time now stretches to 23 matches, and Ndidi insisted the squad’s ambitions remain undimmed heading into their final friendly of the window against Portugal.
“We always try as much as possible to get a win in every game. With our philosophy, with our vision, and most importantly, to try and give a good game, try to be at our best and try to see if we win the game,” he said.
