International friendly: Shame, As Mexico Humiliates Nigeria

By Akinwale Kasali

It was a shameful, disastrous outing for the Coach Paul Aigbogun Home Based Super Eagles Team.

The team was disgraced by a more experienced and determined El Tri of Mexico  in the early hours of Sunday at the El Paso Stadium in Texas, USA.

The handwriting was boldly written on the wall, as soon as the Center referee signalled the commencement of the International friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their Mexican Counterparts.

As early as the Second minute of the one sided encounter, Atletico Madrid Football Club of Spain midfielder, Hector Herrera, slammed home a corner kick, having been left unmarked at the far post to give the North American country an early lead.

Just two minutes later, Mexico doubled their lead as Funes Mori finished off a cross from the right with his left foot.

Mexico continued to control the match and almost extended their lead within 25 minutes but Jesus Tecatito’s effort missed the target.

In the 29th minute, it was the turn of Hirving Lozano to try his luck, but Stanley Nwabali got down well and parried for a corner.

Mori almost got his second goal on 38 minutes but sent his left-footed volley just over the bar.

The home based Super Eagles were on the defensive side all through the first 45 minute, failing to have a shot on goal.

The Mexicans resumed their dominance of the game in the second half, and had a chance to go 3-0 up following a dangerous shot by Lozano which Nwabali punched away for a corner.

But in the 51st minute Mexico went 3-0 up thanks to Herrera who grabbed his second of the game.

In the 57th minute the Eagles made a double change with Stephen Jude and Sunday Adetunji replacing Adekunle Adeleke and Charles Atshimene.

The Eagles went close to getting on the score sheet but Alfredo Tala made a good save.

And in the 77th minute, Mexico got their fourth goal through Dos Santos who finished with a superb strike after Erick Gutierrez sent a pass behind the Eagles’ defence.

The Super Eagles, mostly home-based, were roundly humiliated, throughout the match. They were no match for their opponents who outplayed them in all departments.

The Super Eagles starting lineup featured mainly players from the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, except for Ibrahim Sunusi, who plies his trade with CF Montreal football Club in the Major Soccer League in the United States of America.

However, the gap in quality between the two teams on parade showed as Mexico dominated from start to finish to claim a resounding win.

The Eagles defence could not find answers to the rampaging Mexicans while their strikers were also poor going forward.

The Coach of the  National Team, Gernot Rohr was at the stands watching the match as Aigbogun took charge of the home based team.

It would be recalled that there was brickbats among the Super Eagles Technical Team on who would handle the team for the friendly against the Mexicans. Rohr said it was not his responsibility to handle the Home Based team, passing the baton to Aigbogun to take charge.

The defeat was the second the Super Eagles will suffer in the hands of the Mexicans in over a decade, as previous encounters had ended in a stalemate.

The Super Eagles is gearing up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers commencing later in the year, with the team grouped alongside Cape Verde, Liberia and Central African Republic.