Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held 2-2 by Saudi Arabia in an international friendly match played at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão, Portugal on Friday evening.
Both teams went into the game in contrasting fortunes; Nigeria winning their last three games while Saudi Arabia went in on the back of six consecutive losses in all competions.
Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro handed in-form Germany based striker Victor Boniface his full debut and also gave Italy based defender Tyronne Ebuehi his first start with the team in 20 months.
The Super Eagles created a plethora of opportunities in a first half they dominated but a combination of poor marksmanship and good goalkeeping by Saudi Arabia goalie Mohammed Al Owais kept the scores even at half time.
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The Saudis however went in front on the hour mark when Salman Al Faraj’s free kick was inexplicably turned into his own net by Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, bringing back memories of his clangers in recent years, including one that prevented Nigeria from qualifying for the last FIFA World Cup.
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Nigeria replied in the 73rd minute when Abdulelah Al Amri turned Moses Simon’s cross into his own net under pressure from Boniface before the Super Eagles then went in front through Kelechi Iheanacho who curled home from the edge of the box.
When Jose Peseiro thought he had earned his first win in friendly games for the Super Eagles, the Saudis struck again in the 100th minute when Mohammed Kanno’s free kick deflected off Calvin Bassey to beat Uzoho once again.
Friday’s game came less than 24 hours after the Super Eagles learnt they would be playing hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in the group phase at the Africa Cup of Nations early next year, and 48 hours after they adopted ‘Let’s Do It Again’ as their mantra for the trophy quest in Cote d’Ivoire.
On Monday, the Super Eagles will take on the Mambas of Mozambique in another friendly encounter at the same venue, before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe next month.
Nigeria XI vs Saudi Arabia:
Uzoho; Ebuehi (Osayi-Samuel 65′), Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Iwobi (Aribo 78′); Chukwueze (Iheanacho 65′), Lookman (Moses Simon 66′); Boniface (Umar Sadiq 78)’ Osimhen (Moffi 59′)
