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The Super Eagles lost their second match in one week on Friday night as they wrapped up their US Tour with a 1-0 loss to Ecuador in New Jersey, Megasportsarena.com reports.
Nigeria created numerous chances in the match with four shots on target but weren’t able to convert any.
An early goal from Villarreal left-back Pervis Estupinan fired Ecuador to the lone goal win and back-to-back losses for Nigeria, after the 2-1 defeat by Mexico in Dallas.
Estupinan met an Angel Mena set piece with a downward header at the far post that left goalkeeper Francis Uzoho with no chance, with defenders, Chidozie Awaziem and Faisal Sani caught flat-footed.
Nigeria paraded the same starting lineup as in the game against Mexico, except for the inclusion of Sani Faisal, who came on for the injured Innocent Bonke.
Cyril Dessers and Terem Moffi started in attack, with Simon Moses and Alex Iwobi supporting on the flanks.
The Eagles were denied a penalty in the 13th minute after Moffi was taken out by the Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, but the referee and his assistant waved it off despite protests from the Nigerian bench.
A defence-splitting pass from Iwobi presented a goal-scoring chance to Dessers, but goalkeeper Domingues made a good save, and another from the resultant corner off a Semi Ajayi point-blank header.
Ola Aina and Emmanuel Dennis came on at the start of the second half to replace Awaziem and Faisal while Dominguez was called to action again in the 50th minute, but he saved a fierce drive from Aribo as the Eagles continued to dominate possession and looked to find their way back into the game.
Dennis missed a chance for an equaliser in the 58th minute with Dominguez producing another save from Calvin Bassey in the 62nd minute.
Estupinan had two chances late on in the match, but goalkeeper Uzoho did well to keep Nigeria in the game.
Victor Mbaoma was sent on for Moffi in the 85th minute but the Eagles could not find the equaliser as the Tricolor wrapped up their first ever win against Nigeria in an International match.
Jose Peseiro lost his second game in charge of the Super Eagles and will be keen for a first competitive win on June 9th when Nigeria takes on Sierra Leone in the Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifier.
Ecuador manager Gustavo Alfaro said before the match that he would use the friendlies to fine-tune preparation for the World Cup, to be played in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.
Ecuador have been drawn in Group A of football’s showpiece tournament alongside the hosts, the Netherlands and Senegal.
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