Troost-Ekong's own goal gifts Mexico victory over Nigeria

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Mexico beat Nigeria's Super Eagles 2-1

By Victor Okoye

Mexico’s El Tri on Saturday, beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in an international friendly game in Dallas, United States.

Their second goal came from Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong, who cleared into his team’s net to gift Mexico a victory.

The match was the Super Eagles’ first of two international friendlies lined up by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

It was also head coach Jose Peseiro’s first game in charge of the team, and part of their preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

While Nigeria failed to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup, El Tri is using the game to prepare for the event in Qatar.

The match was the first of three friendlies for the Mexicans before their CONCACAF Nations League opener against Suriname in June.

Santiago Gimenez opened the scoring for a makeshift Mexico squad in the 13th minute.

It was with a great finish as they got their international window off to a positive start In front of a healthy crowd in Arlington.

The Mexicans bossed the first half with Gerardo Martino using the second half primarily as an opportunity to integrate Diego Lainez and Edson Alvarez from the bench.

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Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho made some superb saves to contain their opponents in the first half and keep the Super Eagles in the game.

Peseiro’s boys grew more into the game in the second half and got a well-deserved equaliser through Cyriel Dessers in the 54th minute from a powerful header.

It was Dessers’ first international goal for the national team.

However, defender Troost-Ekong inadvertently conceded an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball from a delicate cross into the penalty box in the 56th minute.

The match was thereafter cagey and saw the introduction of a few players from the Nigeria Professional Football League League (NPFL) towards the end, with about 20 minutes left.

Enyimba’s Victor Mbaoma, Ishaq Rafiu and Chiamaka Madu (both from Rivers United) replaced Terem Moffi (Lorient FC, France), Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France) and Dessers (Feyenoord, Netherlands) respectively.

They helped the team to hold on for a commendable finish.

Troost-Ekong’s own goal eventually proved the difference between the two sides, despite coming barely two minutes after Desser’s equaliser for Nigeria.

Super Eagles will face Ecuador on Thursday before attention shifts to the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Mauritius in June.

NAN

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