Int’ l Friendly: S’ Eagles Test Mexico For Size

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the El Tri, their Mexican counterparts will clash for the eleventh time in their history tonight (early morning in Nigeria) in Houston Texas as each side warms up for important engagements in June.

It is an international friendly match which the teams and their handlers want to use to assess their squad for crucial 2014 World Cup qualifying matches coming up next month.

For Nigeria, the Super Eagles are shaping up to confront Kenya and Namibia in a space of one week in ties that can make or mar Nigeria’s hope of being at the World Cup party in Brazil in 2014. They will also be involved in the FIFA confederation  cup in the middle of June.

Before now, Nigeria and mexico have met ten times with Nigeria leading the head-to-head with five wins, four losses and a loss.

Today, however, apart from national pride, the eventual outcome of the encounter may count for little more than creating team bonding and getting the players in the mood for the task ahead.

Despite not having the full complement of players he would have wished, coach Stephen Keshi has promised Nigerians a good outing in the friendly.

It will be interesting, however, to see how Eagles defenders, Kenneth Omereuo and Godfrey Oboabona will handle Manchester United’s  restless striker, Hernandez, Known as Chicharito.

It is also an opportunity for new players in the Eagles like Joseph Akpala, Anthony Ujah, John Ogu and Benjamin Francis to show what they can do and perhaps, earn a permanent place in the team.

Keshi and most of his players have assured that there was no cause to fret over the Mexican challenge, it is now left to be seen how the Eagles will fly against the Central Americans.