Watford of England summer signing, Oghenekaro Etebo played his first match for The Hornets in a pre-season friendly that ended goalless against West Bromwich Albion, who had Semi Ajayi in action, megasportsarena.com reports.
Ajayi was on from the start for The Baggies, but was later on replaced by Cedric Kipre, while 25-year-old Etebo also started for The Hornets, alongside William Troost-Ekong, Morocco’s Adam Masina and Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr.
The game came two weeks after the dark-skinned Etebo increased the number of Nigerians in the Hertfordshire-based outfit, as he waited for 15 days before getting the chance to star for Xisco Munoz’s side.
The Super Eagles’ battler, who joined Watford earlier this summer on loan from lower division side, Stoke City, put up a decent show in the barren encounter.
Although Ajayi’s side dominated ball possession, it was the hosts who had the best chance to score first, albeit, Sarr was unable to beat goalkeeper, David Button.
Grady Diangana tested Ben Foster twice before attempting to lob the former Manchester United man, who was required to retreat to save his blushes.
At the beginning of the second half, Nigerian-born Scotland youth international, Dapo Mebude went on in place of Tom Cleverley and he almost put his team ahead in the 52nd minute, but he shot wide of the left upright after dragging it across goal.
On the hour, Sarr forced an impressive save off Button and Etebo was replaced two minutes later by Henry Wise, but Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure, who made his debut earlier in the day against Brentford Town, was kept out of the clash against Ajayi’s English Championship team.
Etebo, who earlier declared that he will give his very best to The Hornets when the season commences, will now aim for a better impact, after both teams failed to find the back of the net in his first non-competitive game since moving to Vicarage Road.
