All the goals were scored in the second half.
Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has given kudos to his players after securing a 3-1 victory over Venezuela in an international friendly played in the early hours of Thursday in Miami, Florida, in the United States.
Keshi said he was particularly impressed because most of the players are playing together for the first time and yet were able to defeat their South American counterparts who have been together for a while.
“Of course I am happy and impressed with the players particularly knowing that the players were in a way hurriedly assembled and had just one real training session together as a team,” Keshi said on air from Miami
The Big Boss admitted that the team started quite slowly but got better as the game progressed to secure the commendable win.
For many, Thursday’s win by the Super Eagles is a giant step towards increasing its rating on the monthly FIFA ranking where Nigeria is currently ranked 10th in Africa and 53rd in the world.
The first half of Thursday’s friendly saw the South Americans threatening from the blast of the whistle as the Nigerian defence, made largely of home based players, appeared hesitant and nervous.
The game became more interesting in the second half as both teams came out determined to get ahead, and it was the Eagles that got the breakthrough when Solomon Kwambe rampaged down the right and fired a low cross that Brown Ideye slotted in.
The second wasn’t long in coming, and it was a wonder strike from Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor, who hammered in a shot from about of 35 yards in the 53rd minute, to double the Eagles lead.
Keshi, in the 60th minute, pulled out Obafemi Martins for Shola Ameobi, and the Levante striker didn’t look too happy with the move.
It was Bright Dike’s turn to be taken off in the 68th minute as the U.S. born striker gave way for home boy Ejike Uzoenyi as Keshi switched his front line.
However, with the changes made, Venezuela found a way back into the game as their striker Frank Feltscher pulled one back for the Vinotinto in the 70th minute.
With the South Americans pressing for a coveted equaliser, SS Lazio Nigerian youngster, Ogenyi Onazi, stood up to the show scoring the third goal for the Eagles after brilliant hold up play by Shola Ameobi.
Thursday’s game was only the second for Onazi with the Super Eagles. He had played with the country’s youth teams: the Golden Eaglets and the Flying Eagles.
