Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has revealed that his team still needs to improve in defending set-pieces following their 1-1 international friendly draw with Brazil in Singapore on Sunday.
Rohr also hailed wingers, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze for giving the Selecao lots of problems on the counter-attack during the encounter.
Joe Aribo had put the Super Eagles in front in the 35th minute with a fine finish from close range before Casemiro’s second-half strike saved the South Americans from a shock defeat.
The draw is the best result the Nigeria has secured against the five-time world champions, after losing 3-0 in their last encounter in 2003 in Abuja.
“It was tough for us as the second game because Brazil would not have wanted to leave Singapore without winning, and it feels very good to know that we can play so well against some of the biggest names in football,” Rohr told reporters after the game in Singapore.
“We didn’t have our best team here, but our wingers gave Brazil a lot of problems on the counter-attack and I am proud of our players. They can have a good future.
“We can still improve in defending set-pieces. We have height, with players as tall as two metres, but we have to be better in the air.
“It is not enough just to have good size, they need to jump well with good timing.
“These results are good for African football when Senegal and Nigeria did not lose to Brazil, one of the strongest teams in the world.”
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