- Saudi Arabia grabbed a late equalizer in the game in the 100th minute of the encounter, with Mohammaed Kanno smashing home a free-kick
Nigeria played out a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in an international friendly on Friday evening.
It is the first of two matches that Jose Peseiro’s men will play this window as they prepare for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations next year.
The Super Eagles fell behind to the Asian country in the 60th minute, thanks to Salman Al-Faraj’s goal.
The three-time African champions were level through Abdulelah Al-Amri’s own goal, before Kelechi Iheanacho gave them the lead with a finish from just inside the box.
However, Saudi Arabia grabbed a late equalizer in the game in the 100th minute of the encounter, with Mohammaed Kanno smashing home a free-kick.
Nigeria will face Mozambique next week in another friendly game.
Meanwhile, ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AfCON) to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, the minister of sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, has said that the Super Super Eagles are expected to emerge from Group A, which includes the host nation, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and go ahead to win the trophy.
The Minister has also said that he will place much emphasis on grassroots sports development and revive headmasters sports competition in primary schools for talent haunt.
Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday, the Minister said all efforts will be made to rally the nation behind the Super Eagles for the required solidarity and support, saying that when they know that they have massive home support, it will encourage them to perform well.
The minister noted that for a country that has not won the AfCON for a long time, Super Eagles have the desire to and determination to win again, “which means they must prepare very well.”
Enoh announced that President Tinubu has approved a national campaign christened “Let’s Do It Again” to mobilize resources for the Super Eagles for a successful tournament.
“By the time they know that the whole country is behind them, they will have added fire power. The country’s expectation is that they will win the cup and bring it back to Nigeria. That’s the idea of the campaign. It will be a morale booster,” he said.
The minister explained that the idea of the Let’s Do It Again campaign is also to mobilize resources from the private sector to support the national team such that government funds would not be needed to prosecute the tournament.
Besides, he said that the ‘let’s do it again campaign ‘will be a moral booster for the Super Eagles to know that the whole country is behind them. “
He said that the grassroots sports development is aimed at bringing sports activities close to the youths in the rural areas where they will be exposed to sports facilities to grow their talents.