Mexico 2-2 Nigeria: Heat in Houston during a breathless friendly

An exciting and often breathless friendly ended all square as the Super Eagles and El Tri battled to a 2-2 draw in the Reliant Stadium, Texas

Nigeria and Mexico played out a tantalising, and at times, breathless, 2-2 friendly in Houston’s Reliant Stadium. A Chicharito strike was cancelled out by an Ideye Brown penalty, and with Mexico down to ten men following the dismissal of Pablo Barrera, Nigeria took the initiative through a deflected John Ogu strike.

Unfortunately, their lead was not to last, and Chicharito popped up once again in the second half to save face for El Tri.

Heading into the contest, both teams were in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable predicament; being unbeaten in five—as the pair were—ought to inspire confidence, but instead there was unease and uncertainly.

Nigeria, shorn of some of their finest attacking talents, beset by internal strife and player politics, and reeling after an unsatisfactory home draw with Kenya in World Cup qualifying, approached the game under massive pressure.

Kalu Uche leaves eagles Camp

Rizespor forward, Uche Kalu has ruled himself out of the Nigerian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, supersport.com can report. Kalu has struggled to recuperate from a groin injury and has opted to leave Nigeria’s pre-Afcon camp in Faro, Portugal.

The former Enyimba forward could not train with the rest of the squad this week owing to the injury and had been placed under close supervision by the Nigerian team doctor.

He also missed out of Wednesday’s friendly against Catalonia.

On Friday, Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi had requested from the medical team to know the health status of the player before next week’s deadline to submit his final squad of 23 players to Caf for the Afcon in South Africa.

However, the player’s lawyer, Chike Onyeacho, has shed more light on Kalu’s decision to rule out himself from the Super Eagles’ trip to South Africa.