Mexico peg back lethargic Super Eagles as Nigeria trail in the first half

A slow opening to the game by the Super Eagles ensured the El Tri dictated proceedings earlier on and scored the needed curtain raiser

For large spells in the first half, the Super Eagles played second fiddle to the Mexican team which had the home support in Texas behind them.

Nigeria, with many players travelling long distances to make it to the United States played with a back three but got pegged back by Santiago Jimenez in the 12th minute and conceded many shots to the Mexicans in the opening minutes.

The Super Eagles didn’t register any shot in the first half of the game while the Mexicans had eight with four getting on target.

Cyriel Dessers, leading the line for Nigeria struggled to muster any moment of note as the Mexicans extinguished the Super Eagles’ attacks and foiled their danger men in the first period. The Feyenoord attacker had barely had enough rest and training sessions going into the game.

The back three of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Chidozie Awaziem looked good and composed as the game wore on while Moses Simon and Calvin Bassey on the wing-back positions also gave the team exciting options moving forward.

The midfield trio of Innocent Bonke, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo struggled to keep up with the pace of the game at times but looked livelier in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

Terem Moffi, playing slightly behind Dessers also proved a good linkup between the midfield and attack in some spells as he received the ball and brought others on well.

Mexico were the better side in the opening half of the game and Nigeria may need to step up their play if they’d pick anything positive in terms of results from the game.

Jose Peseiro is expected to introduce some of the NPFL players on the bench in the second half to add some freshness to the team.