Finidi rates performance of Nigeria's latest debutant Tanimu, admits he tried to bring him to Enyimba 

Tanzanian-based central defender Benjamin Tanimu became the latest player to make his debut for Nigeria's senior national team following his inclusion in the starting lineup for the Super Eagles 2-1 win over Ghana's Black Stars in an international friendly on Friday evening.

Wearing the number 5 at the back of his jersey, the Ihefu Sports Club ace was holding his own against Premier League stars Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo until the 79th minute when he had to make way for Ademola Lookman due to injury.

Tanimu was the surprise inclusion in Nigeria's 27-man squad for the back-to-back friendlies against Ghana and Mali.

Finidi had been monitoring the performance of the 21-year-old before handing him his first call-up and the interim Super Eagles coach, who manages Enyimba on a full-time basis, admitted that he tried to sign him for the Peoples' Elephant from Bendel Insurance but was unsuccessful.

Addressing the media post-match, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner said: "Great. He is a player that I wanted while he was still at Bendel Insurance but it didn't work out.

"With all the injuries that we had, we had to look for a player that can substitute and it came to my mind to invite him and he's doing so well in his club in Tanzania, so why not."

Asked to rate the performance of Tanimu, Finidi responded: "Not bad. Being his first time, it's not easy wearing that national colours but overall I would give him credit.

"It's not a bad one for the first time wearing that jersey, to be there, and up and doing, it's a great thing."

Initially, Finidi's intention was for Tanimu to start on the bench against the Black Stars but he climbed up the pecking order of central defenders, with Calvin Bassey and Kenneth Omeruo unavailable for selection after picking up knocks.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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