File: Super Eagles players

Two second half goals by Serbian forward Aleksandr Mitrovic ensured the Super Eagles lost 0-2 to Serbia in London on Tuesday in an international friendly.

With work permit issue holding back team captain Mikel Obi in China, and midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo still down with injury, the Eagles were under-strength.

Forward Kelechi Iheanacho was also knocked out by a broken arm, and Rohr saw his squad further depleted just before the contingent left for the stadium.

Defender Leon Balogun also reported sick and had to be replaced.

In the event, Chidozie Awaziem took Balogun’s place on the left of William Troost-Ekong, and with Tyronne Ebuehi also starting at right back instead of Abdullahi Shehu.

Half of the backline from the 1-0 win over Poland in Wroclaw on Friday rested on the bench.

This meant a different formation from the one adopted in Wroclaw, with big forward Odion Ighalo starting from the bench.

Yet, the Eagles were not easily ruffled, though the Serbians created more chances and were strong as bulls on the turn.

Wilfred Ndidi, perhaps Nigeria’s outstanding player of the night, was involved severally and in all sectors on the turf at The Hive, giving as much as he got.

With Victor Moses, match winner in Poland on Friday stringing things at the left side of midfield, Nigeria could have gone ahead after 10 minutes.

His smart shot in the 10th minute was pushed out for a corner kick.

But the Serbians also tested Francis Uzoho endlessly, and Ekong, Iwobi and Awaziem had to divert balls away from goal in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, Ighalo came in for Moses and the Eagles lost the playmaking steam from the left of the channel, though the China-based forward was bright in the middle.

Uzoho came out quickly to save a Serbian onslaught in the 50th minute and then smothered a shot by Branislav Ivanovic just before the hour.

But Mitrovic found space in the box to score two goals in the 68th and 81st minutes to condemn Nigeria to defeat.

Next up for the Eagles in the pre-FIFA World Cup build-up is the Send Forth match against Democratic Republic of Congo in Nigeria on Monday, May 28, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

This is to be followed by a prestige game against England’s Three Lions at Wembley five days later.