Saudi Arabia snatched a last minute goal at the dot of nine minute added time to stalemate scores with Nigeria. Final scores: 2-2. The Super Eagles were at the verge of a 2-1 win until the last minute of the added time when Mohamed Kanoo pierced through a defensive wall from a direct free kick to beat Francis Uzoho in goal.
Two Saudi players suddenly fell apart to create the wide opening resulting into the goal. Before then, a free kick by Salman Al-Faraj was parried into the Nigerian net by Uzoho to give Saudi Arabia the lead in the 60th minute.
Own Goal by Abdulelah Al Amri put Nigeria back in the game when Simon Moses laid the ball to Victor Boniface whose side kick was deflected into the net by Al Amri’
Then in the 81st minute, Kelechi Iheanacho left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner to give Nigeria the lead.
The Super Eagles were on the verge of sealing a win before the last minute heartbreak. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze had first-half chances to put the Super Eagles ahead but could not, only for the Saudis, who had lost their last six matches in all competitions, to take a shock lead on the hour mark when
goalkeeper Francis Uzoho palmed the ball into his own net from a free-kick way out on the right flank by Salman Al Faraj.
Coach Jose Peseiro introduced Terem Moffi for the injured Victor Osimhen, and brought in Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon to relieve Tyronne Ebuehi, Lookman and Chukwueze.
Eight minutes later, Iheanacho drove the ball powerfully into the net beyond the flailing hands of the Falcons’ goalie, after Moffi and Simon combined to put the opposing defence in knots.
The game came less than 24 hours after the Super Eagles learnt they would be playing hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in the group phase at the Africa Cup of Nations early next year, and 48 hours after they adopted ‘Let’s Do It Again’ as their mantra for the trophy quest in Cote d’Ivoire.
On Monday, the Super Eagles will take on the Mambas of Mozambique in another friendly encounter at the same venue, before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe next month.
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