Nigeria and Italy played out a 2-all game at Craven Cottage, Fulham, London last night.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria put on a wonderful display against the Azurri of Italy in a friendly played at the home turf of Premier League side, Fulham Football Club in London.
Buoyed by their World Cup qualification, Coach Stephen Keshi made seven changes to the team that started against Ethiopia over the weekend with Austin Ejide, Augustine Egwuekwe, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Shola Ameobi, Bright Dike, Francis Benjamin and Solomon Kwambe coming in for Vincent Enyeama, Kenneth Omeruo, Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye, Ahmed Musa, Efe Ambrose and Uwa Echejile.
Italian coach, Cesare Prandelli also made changes to the side that drew against Germany on Friday, giving respite to big stars like Gigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Pablo Osvaldo, Leandro Bonucci, Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Barzagli. Guisseppe Rossi was handed his first start after two years on sidelines with injury.
Rossi repaid his manager’s faith by grabbing the opening goal in the 12th minute. Nigeria replied in quick fashion and scored two goals in 4 minutes through Bright Dike and Shola Ameobi in the 35th and 39th minute of the game.
But the Super Eagles could not hold on for a historic win against the team that knocked them out of the 1994 World Cup courtesy of a Roberto Baggio penalty after Augustine Eguavoen brought down his Italian opponent in the area.
Sunderland winger, Emmanuele Giaccherini scored the equaliser few minutes after the restart.
Nevertheless, the overall performance was good on the night and this is exactly the kind of high profile friendly match Super Eagles’ fans expect the team to play.
This draw and the win over Ethiopia will probably see Nigeria climb the FIFA World Rankings. Nigeria is currently ranked 33rd in the world and 4th in Africa behind Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Algeria.
