Maccabi Tel Aviv players figured prominently in the Israel national squad for last night's international friendlies. Vincent Enyeama and his Nigerian teammates have reached the finals of the African National Cup
Israel defeated Finland 2-1 at Netanya's new stadium in an international friendly that served as a warm-up for their two critical European qualifiers in March against Portugal and Northern Ireland. The two Israeli goals were scored by Eden Ben Bassat and Lior Refaelov, both plying their trade outside the country at Toulouse and Club Brugge respectively. Veteran footballer and former Chelsea star Mikael Forssell pulled one back for Finland. Two Maccabi Tel Aviv players were in the starting line-up, defender Eitan Tibi (substituted just after the hour mark by Shir Tsedek of Hapoel Kiryat Shmona) and Maharan Radi, who made way at half time for his Maccabi midfield partner Gal Alberman. Striker Eliran Atar also came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute for the Valenciennes forward Maor Melicson.
Before the Finland match, Israel's U21s played out a 0-0 draw against their Serbian counterparts. Two Maccabi Tel Aviv players featured in the starting line-up, striker Moannes Dabur and defender Omer Vered. A double substitution in the 70th minute saw Vered make way for Hapoel Ramat Gan's Israel Zguri while Maccabi midfielder Moshe Lugassi came on for Maccabi Haifa's Eyal Golasa.
Last night's big news came out of South Africa, in the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama led his teammates to a resounding 4-1 victory over Mali, guaranteeing their place in the finals this coming Sunday against Burkina Fasso, who beat Ghana in a penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes of play ended in a 1-1 draw. The Nigerian goals were scored by defender Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé, now playing at the Portuguese side Braga, and strikers Aide Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev), Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow) and Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow). Midfielder Sigamary Diarra, currently playing for Corsican side Ajaccio in French Ligue 1, pulled one back for Mali. Maccabi goalkeeper Enyeama is expected to miss the Tel Aviv derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Monday night.
