The Super Eagles of Nigeria scored a late equaliser against the Tartan Army of Scotland in an international friendly played at Craven Cottag...
The Super Eagles of Nigeria scored a late equaliser against the Tartan Army of Scotland in an international friendly played at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.
Stephen Keshi fielded a second string side as he makes final deliberations of his 23 to take to Brazil and few of his fringe players put forward a convincing argument in a disjointed performance.
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| A Nigerian fan before the match |
Instead the plaudits go to Scotland, who will enter an awkward-looking Euro 2016 qualification group containing Germany, Ireland and Poland in fairly good shape.
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| Shola Ameobi battles with a Scottish defender |
They took the lead when James Morrison’s low 20-yard shot was drilled directly to the boot of Mulgrew who casually angled his boot to loop the ball over goalkeeper Austin Ejide, who was woefully out of position.
Nigeria were unable to create meaningful chances for long periods of the first half but levelled on 41 minutes with a huge stoke of luck. Uchebo’s driving run at the heart of the Scottish defence resulted in a shot that deflected off Hanley and wrong-footed McGregor.
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| Uche Nwafor drills home the equaliser to rescue the Eagles |
Scotland’s bad luck extended to disallowed goal in either half but fortune smiled when Egwuekwe turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Morrison after Alan Hutton had bombed down the right and crossed.
Keshi then threw on Osaze Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Uche Nwofor.
And it was Nwofor that got the equaliser on the dot of 90 minutes, as he put away a loose ball, as the Scots failed to clear their lines.
Despite the late equaliser, there are many worrying aspects for Keshi address before Nigeria enter a World Cup group with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia from which they are expected to advance
Nigeria: Ejide, Odunlami (Ambrose 74), Egwuekwe, Yobo (c), Echiejile, Obi (Igiebor 53), Uzoenyi (Moses 61), Gabriel, Babatunde (Oduamadi 66), Uchebo (Odemwingie 54), Ameobi (Nwofor 61)
Substitutes not used: Oshaniwa, Oboabona, Agbim (GK), Azeez, Akpeyi (GK)
Scorers: Uchebo 41; Nwofor 89
