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Dike scores equalizer as Nigeria ties Catalonia

It may have been an unofficial friendly, but Nigeria started 2013 with a 1-1 draw against Catalonia thanks to a goal from Portland Timbers forward Bright Dike.

Dike netted the equalizer against a Catalonia side that included Barcelona players Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Xavi and Sergio Busquets on Wednesday, racing to a pass played in behind the defense before executing a nifty cutback and firing it in off the near post in the second half of the match.

The counter-attacking goal helped Dike’s case for inclusion in Nigeria’s roster for the 2013 African Cup of Nations and was the latest milestone in a career that has seen him go from USL Pro player to Nigerian international in the last few months.

Here is the goal:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeVUzrI0M8w?feature=player_detailpage]

What do you think of Dike’s goal? Think his celebration needs some fine-tuning? Surprised that Catalonia did not defeat Nigeria?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. my mom taught him Home Economics in Edmond, Oklahoma! What a small world we live in to see a kid raised in Oklahoma playing for Nigieria against Catalunya.

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  2. A pleasant surprise to see him on the score sheet. I think many Nigerian’s would agree that he doesn’t have the skill to be on the Cup of Nations Squad or World Cup qualifying squad afterwards. If there is one thing Nigeria excels in it’s producing quality strikers and based on quality alone there are plenty of them not even in the training camp that are far better than Dike.

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    • Nigeria is 52 in the rankings, US is 28.
      Algeria, who we dominated at the WC10, are 19. Egypt, who we beat 3-0 at CC09, are 41.

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      • Agree, its not that golden generation of Golden Eagles that caused havoc in the Olympics and World Cup, think Dike will make it.

      • What you think and what you know two are different things. Here is the list online that the coach invited, which of these guys is Dike benching (minus Shola Ameobi not with the team)?

        Strikers : Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea, England); Uche Kalu (Rizespor, Turkey); Bright Dike (Portland Timbers, USA); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers)

    • Catalonia is trying to secede from Spain and if successful this would definitely change a lot of things especially their national and club soccer teams. I guess this is the only way anybody can beat Spain.

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      • they’ve been doing this for a while. they just play friendlies (basically exhibition tours) against other nations. i don’t believe they’re making any political statement (at least, no more than usual), or angling for their own fifa recognition; it’s just a way to play for “their nation”.

        and, as far as i recall, they don’t usually lose, either. they’re very successful against even the top nations.

  3. A bench player for Portland could make the squad for Nigeria in cup of nations.That says
    something about the quality of MLS.Where is former Columbus player Emanuelle Ekpo, he plays for Molde in Norway. Hes Probably good enough to make this squad.

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    • Sorry dude, MLS players are not good enough to make the Nigerian national team. They can play in Friendly matches, but jeez way too many talented players in Europe for a current or former MLS player to be named to the Super Eagles.

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    • Bro, he is not going to the Africa Cup of Nations with that Nigerian team. He is a camp player. He was invited to their friendly against Venezuela because other players pulled out. If not for that he would have never made it. Also once all their top players arrive, he’ll be heading back to America for his offseason and holidays. And yes I have seen him play in MLS; he’s decent he’s not lethal enough.

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  4. Good job Dike. Repping MLS. Don’t be so sure Dike will be cut before the african cup of nations. The Nigerian coach really likes Dike and his attitude. And Dike is fairly talented as well.

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  5. Dike will most likely make the team. The coach really likes him because he is very humble and a hardworker…and plays to instructions. At least, that’s what the coach has said. It can be tough coaching a team on multi-millionaires like Moses (Chelsea) and Ameobi (Newcastle), who don’t come back to defend or pressure other teams when they lose the ball. That’s why the coach has been playing him. Now, many people in Nigeria are also wonder why he is in the team, but I think he will make the squad to the African cup. He deserves it too, cus he stands to make upwards of $90,000 playing for Nigeria this month.

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    • Throw in Sidney Sam when he gets his FIFA nationality switch processed, and Nigeria will have a decent amount of star power.

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    • Sorry bro. There are way better strikers ahead of him Ideye Brown (who was benching Charlie Davies @ Sochaux), Emmanuel Emenike and Ikechukwu Uche. Humility won’t win you the Africa Cup of Nations; talent will and there are more talented players ahead of him.

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  6. Dike might not be going to the Nations Cup for Nigeria. Good goal, good kid but once all their big names arrive in camp, the coach might drop him. Plus he is a squad player at best.

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    • All those big name players you are talking about either refused to show up or were not picked for training camp. You really have no idea how good this guy is.

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      • Phil you obviously know nothing about the Nigerian camp. Only Shola Ameobi and Danny Shittu have turned down their invitations. Players heading to AFCON; Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa, Ideye Brown, Ike Uche all playing top flight football and proven for Nigeria. Dike is not good enough to actually play in South Africa.

  7. I am gonna be so mad if he just explodes this year and becomes cap tied to Nigeria. Good for him though, hes a great dude and it’s nice to see hard work an patience pay off.

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    • No where in your incoherent rambling did you ever once come close to giving what I would consider a reasonable answer, not only is your comment incorrect but we are all now more stupid from having heard it. I award you no points and may God have mercy or your soul.

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