'He was gifted by the goalkeeper' - Former Man City striker & Okocha react to Awoniyi's goal

Published: January 16, 2022

Taiwo Awoniyi has now scored for all the national teams - Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, Olympic Team and Super Eagles - after finding the net in Nigeria's 3-1 win over Sudan in an Africa Cup of Nations clash on Saturday evening.

The three-time African champions heading into the interval with a commanding 2-0 lead thanks to goals from the two U17 World Cup winners.

Just before halftime, Awoniyi doubled the advantage when Iheanacho's free-kick ricocheted off his head and into the net after a blunder by the Sudanese goalkeeper.

While Nigeria legend Jay-Jay Okocha has labeled Awoniyi's first goal in Super Eagles colours a striker's goal, former Manchester City and Zimbabwe striker Benjamin Mwaruwari did not mince words, saying the Union Berlin man was gifted the goal by a howler from the Falcons glovesman.

In his fulltime analysis on SuperSport, Okocha said : "That is a striker's goal, it does not have to look pretty, they all count. I think that will help his confidence."

Mwaruwari added : "He was gifted by the goalkeeper, the keeper should have saved that, that is poor from the keeper."

Awoniyi was in action for 161 minutes combined spread across three competitive matches before opening his account for the three-time African champions.

Igho Kingsley

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