Nigeria’s Super Eagles overcame Venezuela

Nigeria’s Super Eagles overcame their Venezuelan counterparts 3-1 in their first pre-Afcon friendly at the Marlin Park in Miami, Florida in the USA on Thursday.
The result will flatter the Nigerians as it was not a true reflection of the balance of the game.
But Nigeria manager, Stephen Keshi surprisingly opted to start with a three-man attack and handed Portland Timbers’ striker, Bright Dike his first international game alongside Obafemi Martins and Brown Ideye.
Newcastle forward, Shola Ameobi also made his debut since being cleared by Fifa in 2011.
All the goals came in the business end of the game including a super strike from midfielder Nosa Igiebor.
As early as the fifth minute, Azubuike Egwuekwe gifted the ball away to the Venezuelans and Juan Arango’s cross evaded Jose Salomon Rondon, who was clear on goal, by inches.
Three minutes later, the Super Eagles had the best chance of the half. Real Betis’ man, Nosa Igiebor waltzed his way through the middle before putting Brown Ideye through on goal but the Dynamo Kiev striker elected to strike low rather than chip over Venezuela keeper, Daniel Hernandez, who saved comfortably.
The Nigerian defence also had a troubled spell of having to deal with balls over the top from the South Americans.
On one of such occasions, centre-back Egwuekwe had to leave a trailing leg to keep out the Venezuelans from scoring.
Venezuela’s most influential player of the opening half, Arango had the ball in the net but his goal was chalked off for offside.
Just before the half hour mark, US-born striker, Dike almost got a debut goal after Obafemi Martins slipped in a through ball to him, which he shot wide and high.
Minutes later, the Nigerian defence was carved open for the umpteeth time, but Ejide was quick off his line to make a double, brave save.
The last real chance of the first 45 minutes fell to Martins, who cushioned Elderson Echiejile’s cross and then hit it wide.
Venezuela trio of Rondon, Herman Rivas & Arango will really rue their wasted chances in the first half as it took Nigeria four minutes to open score in the restart.
Igiebor played Solomon Kwambe into space on the right and his cross into the Venezuelan Ideye is on the line to tap in.
Three minutes later and out of the blues, Igiebor’s long range effort from all of 40 yards flew past Hernandez for Nigeria’s second goal.
And within minutes, Nigeria’s defence went to sleep with Arango playing the ball over the top before Rondon climbed highest to chest the ball before slotting it in. But his goal is ruled out.
On 70 minutes, Venezuela pulled one back through substitute Frank Feltscher after capitalising on Godfrey Oboabona’s gift when it was not even Christmas yet.
After their goal, the South Americans took over control of the game and peppered the Nigerians with flurry of attacks.
Ejide was forced into making two quick saves in the last ten minutes to protect Nigeria’s one-goal lead.
Nigeria wrapped up the game with a late Ogenyi Onazi goal.
Ameobi held off Venezuela’s defence from the ball before squaring it into Onazi, who fired his first goal for his country into the bottom right hand corner of Hernandez.
The win is Nigeria’s second over the South Americans.
The Super Eagles had defeated La Vinotinto by a goal in a friendly on July 26, 2003 with Austin Okocha scoring the winner on that occasion.
Keshi and his team used the game as part of build-up to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.