Nigeria's
World Cup preparations took another hit on Wednesday, as they lost 1-0 to a
Czech Republic side which failed to qualify for the finals in Russia.
Gernot
Rohr's men could take some positives away from their 2-1 defeat to England on
Saturday, but there were few four days later, as Tomas Kalas' first-half opener
secured a slender victory for the Czechs, who were thrashed 4-0 by Australia on
Friday.
At no point
in the first half did Nigeria appear to be in the ascendancy and, shortly after
surviving a scare, they deservedly found themselves trailing in the 25th minute
– Kalas scuffing in from close range after Francis Uzoho parried Tomas Soucek's
header right to him.
The closest
Nigeria came to levelling before the break was Wilfred Ndidi's 30-yard drive,
which was brilliantly tipped around the post by Tomas Vaclik in the Czech goal.
Although a
downpour briefly interrupted play in the early stages of the second half, Nigeria
played with more intent after half-time and went close in the 63rd minute, as
John Obi Mikel saw a header saved by Vaclik.
Despite
Nigeria's efforts and attack-minded approach, a late equaliser never arrived,
consigning them to a second successive defeat in their World Cup preparation
games.
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