Martins strikes twice as Nigeria hold Mexico
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 16 (AFP): Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins scored twice as Nigeria held Mexico 2-2 in an international friendly at the weekend.
It was an impressive showing by the two-time African champions as they launched preparations under German coach Berti Vogts for the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana.
And the Super Eagles could have snatched their first win over Mexico in the final minute only for substitute Ikechukwu Uche to fire a penalty kick over in the northern Mexican city of Juarez.
Martins forced a superb save from Guillermo Ochoa before giving Nigeria a 32nd-minute lead with a shot into the far corner and he struck again seven minutes after half-time.
The striker broke clear down the left wing and once again his left foot did the damage in the third meeting between the countries with the previous two 12 years ago producing a narrow Mexican victory and a draw.
Juan Carlos Cacho reduced arrears by heading home an Israel Castro cross and he struck again after 68 minutes, converting a penalty awarded for a foul on Giovani dos Santos by Taye Taiwo.
A knee injury ruled out two-time African Footballer of the Year Nwankwo Kanu from English Premiership club Portsmouth and a thigh strain kept Bulgaria-based Richard Eromoigbe on the sideline.
Nigeria will continue building up for the three-week African football showpiece with friendlies against Australia in London on November 17 and Switzerland in Berne three days later.
Diomansy Kamara converted a late penalty to seal a 3-1 win for Senegal over Guinea in a Rouen clash of Nations Cup qualifiers. Babacar Gueye and Mamadou Niang also scored for Senegal and Fode Mansare was the Guinea marksman.
Senegal lacked high-profile striker El-Hadji Diouf, another two-time African Footballer of the Year, who retired last week citing poor administration of the national squad.
It was an impressive showing by the two-time African champions as they launched preparations under German coach Berti Vogts for the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana.
And the Super Eagles could have snatched their first win over Mexico in the final minute only for substitute Ikechukwu Uche to fire a penalty kick over in the northern Mexican city of Juarez.
Martins forced a superb save from Guillermo Ochoa before giving Nigeria a 32nd-minute lead with a shot into the far corner and he struck again seven minutes after half-time.
The striker broke clear down the left wing and once again his left foot did the damage in the third meeting between the countries with the previous two 12 years ago producing a narrow Mexican victory and a draw.
Juan Carlos Cacho reduced arrears by heading home an Israel Castro cross and he struck again after 68 minutes, converting a penalty awarded for a foul on Giovani dos Santos by Taye Taiwo.
A knee injury ruled out two-time African Footballer of the Year Nwankwo Kanu from English Premiership club Portsmouth and a thigh strain kept Bulgaria-based Richard Eromoigbe on the sideline.
Nigeria will continue building up for the three-week African football showpiece with friendlies against Australia in London on November 17 and Switzerland in Berne three days later.
Diomansy Kamara converted a late penalty to seal a 3-1 win for Senegal over Guinea in a Rouen clash of Nations Cup qualifiers. Babacar Gueye and Mamadou Niang also scored for Senegal and Fode Mansare was the Guinea marksman.
Senegal lacked high-profile striker El-Hadji Diouf, another two-time African Footballer of the Year, who retired last week citing poor administration of the national squad.