El Tri were undoubtedly the better side the last time they squared up against the Nigerian national team in the United States
Super Eagles striker Victor Mbaoma has not forgotten or forgiven the 4-0 thrashing suffered by the home-based Eagles in the hand of the Mexican national team last July.
Matches between Nigeria and Mexico have always been close encounters, with the former Concacaf champions drawing each of their last four games against the Super Eagles. That was until the early hours of July 4, last year.
Parading a team largely made up of NPFL stars, former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr watched helplessly as El Tri forced a huge defeat down the throat of his side inside the United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California.
Goals from Funes Mori, Dos Santos, and Herrera (brace) condemned an Anayo Iwuala-skippered team to an embarrassing loss.
Enyimba striker Mbaoma was not in that team that showed little fight and no class against the North Americans, but he still holds a grudge for El Tri’s treatment of his colleagues.
And ahead of another Nigeria versus Mexico friendly in the United States, the 25-year-old is calling on his teammates to redeem the honour of the Eagles.
“It is revenge time for what Mexico did against us in last year’s friendly game,” Mbaoma told TheCable.
“The last year’s game was somehow for the team. We lost 4-0, and that really was bad. But this time around, we are out to avenge the loss.
“With the caliber of players we have in camp for this game? We are out to win against the El Tri of Mexico.”
New Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro will be aiming for victory in his first game in charge of the three-time African champions.
However, a long list of absences and withdrawals leaves the Portuguese with only 20 players to prosecute the match against Mexico.
El Tri are preparing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar later in the year, while the Super Eagles are looking to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast.
