Semi Ajayi of West Brom played another 90 minutes for Nigeria as the Super Eagles attempted to advance in World Cup qualification.
Following a 1-1 draw with Lesotho, rated 153rd in the world, Nigeria was defeated by a lower opponent once more, this time against Zimbabwe on Sunday, November 19. West Brom’s Ajayi started against Zimbabwe, forging a center-back pairing with Fulham’s Calvin Bassey.
According to Soccernet’s player ratings, the West Brom man received an average of 6.5 for his effort, leaving Nigeria in second place and one point behind South Africa.
They went on to say: “Partnered with Calvin Bassey in central defence once again, the duo showed more synergy and communication in working together.”
Nigeria and Zimbabwe make up one-third of Group C in the CAF World Cup Qualification, with the other spaces filled by South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Benin.
The Super Eagles are the overwhelming favorites to win the group, but after a sluggish start to the qualifying campaign, Ajayi and his squad will be looking to pick up all six points against South Africa and Benin when the games resume next summer.
Nigeria will be dissatisfied with their start, especially given the abundance of talent in the team, including Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina, not to mention the in-form Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Carlos Corberan will be hoping for more positive upon his return to The Hawthorns, as the Championship promotion race is heating up.
Ajayi has been in and out of the team, but he has been a tremendous positive, as have so many others in what has been a difficult division thus far.
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