The match agent of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Jairo Pachon has predicted that the Super Eagles will have an epochal outing against Mexico when both sides clash on July 3, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although the game in Los Angeles, USA is an international friendly, Pachon enthused that another level of history will be written between both sides that have already played out some feisty fixtures in the past.
He added that the match venue, LA Coliseum, a 77,500-capacity facility that has hosted major international championships of all grades, will be at full capacity, as the game will hold just 24 hours before America’s Independence Day anniversary.
The venue also hosted matches of the 1996 Olympic Games football event won by Nigeria and CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which Mexico is the most successful team, with eight titles and are the current Cup holders.
Indeed, the match, which kicks off at 7.30pm (LA time) will be the sixth confrontation between the senior teams of both countries, four of which have ended in draws, while thee only win in the series went to Mexico, when they trumped 2-1 in a US Gold Cup encounter in Dallas, Texas on 24th June 1995.
Other results between include a 1-1 draw at the FIFA Intercontinental King Fahd Cup (now FIFA Confederations Cup) in Saudi Arabia on 13th January 1995, in which Mexico prevailed 5-4 on penalties in a quarter-final match, and goalless draws during friendlies in Houston and Atlanta, while another that was played in Mexico City ended 2-2.
Late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was Nigeria’s coach for the game in Atlanta and, despite playing in front of a largely partisan Mexican crowd, the Super Eagles held their own and came out with their pride intact, as both sides played out a third consecutive stalemate.
The Mexicans were on top for long periods, but made little of it, as El Tri went with a 3-5-2 format that had Andres Guardado get the nod over Miguel Ponce at left wing back, and Javier Hernandez partnered Oribe Peralta upfront.
On the opposing bench, Keshi handed tall Michael Uchebo a debut from the start in an unusual 4-4-1-1 shape, with the then Cercle Brugge of Belgium attacker playing on the left beside top striker, Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa on the right.
The last tie between the two countries was en route to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and, after 90 minutes of entertaining action, both sides settled for a 0-0 draw at Georgia Dome, with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa making a couple of fine saves to deny Keshi’s men.
However, the squad for next Saturday’s fixture in The City of Angels will not have a single foreign-based player, as the squad of 25 invitees that was named on Sunday has only lads from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) led by two goalkeepers that have seen action with the main team, Ikechukwu Ezenwa from Heartland of Oweri and John Noble from Enyimba of Aba.
Also listed ae en defenders: Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Rangers International); Ifeanyi Anaemena (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United); Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers United); Tebo Franklin Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Imoh Ubot (Enyimba); Mohammed Zirkiflu (Plateau United) and Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara United).
Four midfielders are also included, being Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa United); Samuel Nnoshiri (Katsina United); Ekundayo Ojo (Enyimba) and Uche Nwasonaya (Plateau United).
Eight forwards complete the roster – Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Stephen Jude (Kwara United); Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International); Charles Ashimene (Akwa United); Chinonso Ezekwe (Rangers International); Auwalu Ali Malam (Kano Pillars); Neurot Emmanuel (Plateau United) and Abdulmutalif Sanusi (Katsina United).
Although the list of 25, which will be trimmed to 22 on the final roster, has no foreign-based player invited for the game, the agent, who packaged the game through his company, Eurodata Sport, posited that the Eagles will give El Tri a run for their pride next Saturday in LA.
Pachon retorted: “We are happy to be able to announce this match, which is a clash between two very big teams from two different continents. Mexico against Nigeria is a big match any day and the venue is class.”
