Spurs defender scores and provides two assists on international duty

Serge Aurier scored one and assisted another as Ivory Coast overcame Niger 3-0 in an African Cup of Nations qualification match yesterday.

Aurier started the season in good form but the right-back performances have dipped over the last few months.

The defender was part of the Tottenham side who fell to an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb, with the former Paris Saint-Germain man not covering himself in glory for any of the Croatian side’s goals.

Aurier was left out of the matchday squad for Tottenham’s trip to Villa Park on Sunday allegedly due to illness but the striker did join up with the Ivory Coast squad for their two AFCON qualification games.

The 28-year-old certainly had a much happier time on the field with the Elephants than he has had Spurs recently as he bagged a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win.

The Spurs man netted the opener, pouncing on a rebound to tap in from close range after the Niger keeper saved a goal-bound attempt.

Ten minutes later, Aurier then produced a cross into the box for Max-Alain Gradel to double the away side’s lead and later provided a second assist for Wilfried Kanon.

Ivory Coast will now take on Ethiopia on Tuesday in their next qualification game after which Aurier is set to fly back to London ahead of next Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

Spurs Web Opinion

It will be interesting to see if Aurier features against Newcastle. I would think that there would be a fall-out from the Zagreb humiliation and Aurier could well be one of the victims. Tanganga deserves to keep his place in the side for the clash against the Magpies after the performance he put in at Villa Park. However, if Aurier once again misses out on the matchday squad for the trip to St James’ Park, then that would be a sign that his days at the club are numbered.

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