Nigeria Vs Senegal: Iheanacho Earns Draw For Super Eagles

Kelechi Iheanacho’s 83rd minute penalty secured a 1-1 draw for the Nigeria against Senegal in an international friendly game in Barnet, London on Thursday.

The Manchester City striker converted from the spot to cancel out Moussa Sow’s opener, preserving Coach Gernot Rohr’s unbeaten record.

Nigeria received a blow in the 25th minute, when Onazi was stretchered off injured, to be replaced midway through the first-half by Hapoel Baer Sheva star John Ogu.

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Iheanacho, playing in a false 9 position, twice went close for the Eagles: first, he blasted a low shot across goal before squandering from point-blank range after neat combinations from Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.

However it was Fenerbahce striker Sow who gave Senegal a deserved lead in the 54th minute, with the Teranga Lions looking on course to hold on to their first win over the Eagles in 14 meetings, which dates back to 1977.

Everton’s Gueye crossed from the right and Sow was on hand to score with a right-footed finish from inside the area.

Rohr threw on Ogenekaro Etebo and debutant, Isaac Success, to replace Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon and Senegal responded by sending on Liverpool star Sadio Mane with 25 minutes remaining.

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However, it was the Nigerian supporters that celebrated late on as Iheanacho payed for his earlier misses by converting from the spot to level the scores after being fouled by Senegal shot-stopper Pape Ndiaye.

The result extends Rohr’s unbeaten run since taking over last August to four, including two victories in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers over Zambia and Algeria which sees them four points clear of their rivals.

Next up for the Super Eagles is an encounter against Burkina Faso at the same venue on Monday.

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