National Teams
Nigeria 2-2 Saudi Arabia: Green Falcons strike late to force Super Eagles to stalemate
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Nigeria men’s national team and their Saudi Arabian counterparts played out a 2-2 draw in an international friendly match at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao, Portugal on Friday.
The Super Eagles had won their last three games ahead of the friendly match, while the Green Falcons, on the other hand, had lost their last six games.
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze had first-half chances to put the Super Eagles ahead.
After a goalless first half, it was the Asian side that broke the deadlock at the hour mark through Salman Al Faraj as Francis Uzoho failed to handle a corner kick.
A good play between substitute, Moses Simon and Victor Boniface led to the equaliser which was an own goal by Abdulelah Al Amri in the 73rd minute.
Another substitute, Kelechi Iheanacho gave the three-time African champions the lead for the first time in the 81st minute with a left-footed attempt from the edge of the box.
The Asian side, however, notched the equalizer with the last chance of the match from a free kick in the additional minutes of the second half as Mohamed Kanno’s set piece beat Uzoho.
Nigeria will face Mozambique in another friendly match on Monday, October 16 as the West Africans continue their build up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Jose Pesiero’s side were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
