Sean Fusire takes big international step as Sheffield Wednesday man completes Nigeria clash
Sheffield Wednesday's Sean Fusire started at right wing back for Zimbabwe as they took on Nigeria in the Unity Cup.
Wearing the number 11, the Owls academy graduate would have his hands full against a Nigerian side full of impressive young talents who are looking to stake their claim for places in Eric Chelle’s first-choice group of players.
The game took place at Charlton Athletic’s stadium in London, with The Valley hosting four games in this competition. The team in yellow were underdogs going into this one, and that came as no surprise.
It didn’t take the men in white long to make their mark in the tie, either, with Femi Azeez the man to break the deadlock - after just five minutes. The talented Millwall man, who has got plenty of potential suitors this summer, fizzed a lovely strike past Future Sibanda in goal to give the Warriors the worst possible start.
Kaitano Tembo’s men rallied well, though, and made sure the Super Eagles didn’t run away with things in the English capital. The southern Africans grew into the game as time went on, as did Fusire himself as he found more and more joy as the half went on.
Some nice touches raised some cheers from the crowd, as did a crunching tackle just before the break. He could’ve picked up an assist as well, but the on-rushing Tawanda Chirewa couldn’t convert his cutback cross.
Fusire’s first full 90 on the international stage
The Zimbabweans went into the break 1-0 down, but with plenty still to play for and a growing confidence that they could get back into the clash when they returned for the second stanza.
Tembo’s troops started brightly, too, and continued to ask questions of the Nigerians, with Fusire bombing up and down the right side energetically, but Chelle’s men held firm… Then they made it two.
It was Azeez again who got the goal, firing home from close range to put the result beyond doubt. Even with this second-string Super Eagles outfit, any sort of comeback was improbable.
The young Owl kept going, and had another half chance after some good attacking play with 20 minutes left to play - however it didn’t come to anything.
As you’d expect in a friendly encounter, the changes came thick and fast as the game wrapped up, but Fusire was one that remained, completing his first 90 minutes at international level in doing so. While a 2-0 defeat will have been disappointing, it’s more experience under the 20-year-old’s belt.
Zimbabwe will be back in action in the third-place play-off on May 30th, where they’ll go up against either India or Jamaica, with those two battling it out - also at the Valley - tomorrow night.
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