Hapoel Jerusalem goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye has expressed his joy after coming on as a substitute in Nigeria's 2-2 draw with Algeria Team B in a friendly on Friday night.
The 22-year-old Warri-born goalkeeper featured for the first time for the senior national team, making his unofficial Super Eagles debut against the home-based Desert Foxes of Algeria.
Adeleye came on in the second half of the encounter, replacing Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for the second period of the friendly game.
After the Super Eagles had conceded a goal late in the first half, Adeleye was on the verge of keeping a clean sheet in his first match until Algeria were awarded a penalty which was duly converted.
In an interview with NFF TV after the game, the Hapoel Jerusalem shot stopper registered his happiness to have finally put on the colours of the Nigerian national team.
Adeleye said: "It’s great to play for the Super Eagles; I’m just happy to make my debut for the Super Eagles. I’m just happy to play for my country."
After Maduka Okoye conceded a soft goal in the first half, Adeleye was hoping to finish the match with a clean sheet but admitted that there was nothing he could have done to prevent Algeria's second goal of the match.
“It would have been great to keep a clean sheet, but it was a penalty and there was nothing I could do about it," Adeleye explained.
“We are working hard in training and looking forward to the next game on Tuesday.”
The Super Eagles will face off with the first team of the Desert Foxes of Algeria on Tuesday, September 27, in a FIFA-recognised friendly fixture.
Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has got off to a mixed start in his Super Eagles tenure, having recorded two (2) wins, two (2) losses and one (1) draw in his first five (5) matches in charge of the Nigerian national team.
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