Sports
Mexico beat Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles in friendly
National U-23 Eagles team suffered a 1-0 defeat against Mexico in a warm-up match on Sunday as part of the preparatory matches for the 2016 Olympics billed for next month in France.
The Coach Samson Siasia tutored team has had a torrid time recently with a raft of poor results and their confidence level was further punctured when Marco Bueno’s 65th minute header led to another defeat.
The home team, who won Olympics soccer Gold in London four years ago, then came close to doubling their lead in the 83rd minute.
The first half of this friendly was cagey and ended goalless at the Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes.
The young El Tri side were the livelier of the two teams after their goal even though Nigeria could have drawn level late on.
Mexico have now won three and lost one of their preparatory matches in defence of their title in Brazil.
Nigeria coach Samson Siasia played his settled first team from the Rio Olympics qualifiers with Belgium-based midfielder Sodiq Popoola and Saturday Keigo the only new faces.
Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Tunisia-based Junior Ajayi led the attack with Keigo and Ndifreke Effiong forming a new central defence pairing in the absence of the injured Segun Oduduwa.
South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was a late substitute for Emmanuel Daniel.
Akpeyi is expected to be one of the over-aged players Nigeria will line up at Rio 2016.
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