Izuchukwu Okosi
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia played out a 2-2 draw on Friday evening in their second ever international meeting, at the Portimao Municipal Stadium, Portugal.
The friendly being the second time both sides will face off after 13 years – with the same result on both occasions after 90 minutes – is the first of two games the three-time African champions will play with Mozambique the next opponents in Monday evening.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSuper Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze failed to get away their chances.
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The Saudis, who had lost their last six matches in all competitions, took a shock lead in the 61st minute when Francis Uzoho palmed the ball into his own net from a Salman Al Faraj’s superb free kick.
Coach Jose Peseiro, who was in charge of the Saudis when the two nations met for the first time in 2010, introduced Terem Moffi for the injured Victor Osimhen, and brought in Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon to relieve Tyronne Ebuehi, Lookman and Chukwueze.
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There was sudden urgency in the Eagles attacking play and it paid off in the 73rd minute when Moses Simon and Wilfred Ndidi combined beautifully to set up the Bayer Leverkusen striker.
The Nigerian hitman who has scored seven League goals in seven starts for his Bundesliga side slid the ball home from from close range but the goal was credited as an own goal under the challenge from a Saudi Arabian defender.
Eight minutes later, Iheanacho drove the ball powerfully into the net beyond the flailing hands of the Falcons’ goalie, Aliouwanis.
The Asian champions netted a last-gasp equalizer from a free-kick at the edge of the box that deflected off Calvin Bassey.
Nigeria have been pitted in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivorie with the hosts; Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
