Guardian

• I’m Proud Of The Boys, Says Ademola Adesina

• We Could Have Won, Says Keshi

The 2-2 draw recorded by the Super Eagles in Saturday’s early morning friendly match against CONCACAF giant, Mexico, in far away United States of America has received tremendous praise from soccer loving Nigerians.

The African champions and 10-man Mexico settled for a 2-2 draw in the friendly played at Houston, Texas, USA. Over 62,000 fans watched the game at Reliant Stadium.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, ex-Eagles midfielder, Ademola Adesina, said he was highly impressed with the result saying: “Getting a 2-2 draw with Mexico is something we should celebrate. Many people will say that it was just a friendly match, but considering the strength of Mexico in World football and the fact that the match was played at their backyard, I will say the Eagles did a good job. I am very proud of them.”

Speaking further, Adesina, who made his debut at Libya ‘82 Africa Nations Cup in Tripoli, where he scored Nigeria’s first goal said: “The result will serve as a moral boaster for the Eagles, especially in this ‘busy’ month of June.”

Some other Nigerians who stayed awake to watch the encounter equally showered praises on the Eagles for matching the highly rated Mexicans skill for skill.

Mexico were the better side for the first 23 minutes of the game as the Super Eagles were confined to their own half.

Manchester United point man, Javier Hernandez, popularly known as Chicharito, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, hit the bar in the 10th minute after beating Austin Ejide in goal for the Eagles from six yards. The Mexicans created a lot of chances within that period only to convert one, when “Chicharito” finally put the ball into the net beyond Ejide in the 21st minute.

Brown Ideye had earlier found the back of the net after he was set up by Portugal-based John Ogu in the 17th minute, but the effort was ruled offside. Ogu did well in his first start for the Super Eagles.

Eagles fought back and won a penalty, when Elderson Echiejile’s goal-bound shot was handled by a Mexican Pablo Barrera and the resulting penalty was converted by Ideye in the 29th minute to restore parity. Barrera was issued a straight red card and ejected.

Ogu made it 2-1 for Nigeria when his 20-yard left-footed shot was deflected into the net in the 40th minute by Torrado. Nnamdi Oduamadi’s effort in the 63rd minute hit the bar.

Chicharito completed his brace in the 70th minute, when he tapped in from close range to beat substitute goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who came in for Ejide. The goal ensured there was no victor, no vanquished in the high-profile encounter. It was Chicharito’s 36th goal in 46 appearances for his country. He is good for fifth all-time on the Mexican national team. Mexico is preparing for three World Cup qualifiers: at Jamaica on Tuesday, at Panama next Friday and home against Costa Rica on June 11.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi said at the end of the match: “We should have won convincingly because they had 10 men and we had 11, It doesn’t play out that way.’

“We were up, and we were thinking that was it. We lost our focus and concentration, and they came back to score.’’