LONDON- World Cup finals-bound Nigeria have had to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Scotland in London in a match which is subject to a match-fixing investigation.
The build-up to the game between the Africa Cup of Nations champions and the improving Scots had been overshadowed by reports that Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) had launched a match-fixing inquiry.
The NCA is said to have asked world football's governing body FIFA to issue an alert over attempts to influence the game at Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium.
The NCA is said to have told FIFA it had general information from Asian betting markets suggesting there had been attempts to rig the friendly and it hoped to stop any suspect activities by issuing the alert.
A FIFA spokesman said they worked closely with law enforcement agencies and other sports organisations to tackle match manipulation, and encouraged anyone with information to contact their integrity hotline or confidential reporting system.
On the pitch, Scotland - unbeaten in six games under Gordon Strachan - made the perfect start as Charlie Mulgrew opened the scoring after 10 minutes before Michael Uchebo equalised with four minutes left in the first half.
Scotland came out with plenty of fight after the break and Nigerian goalkeeper Azubuike Egwuekwe turned in James Morrison's cross in the 52nd minute to put the Scots back into the lead.
But super-sub Uche Nwofor converted an equaliser in stoppage time of a game in which they had looked second best throughout.
The game was Nigeria's last before flying to play Greece and then the United States and kicking off their games in Brazil against Iran on June 16 in Curitiba.
Scotland: McGregor, Hutton, Robertson (Forsyth 77), Brown (c), Hanley, Greer, Morrison (Boyd 62), Mulgrew, Maloney, Naismith (Martin 46), Anya (Whittaker 83)
Substitutes not used: Marshall, Burke, Bannan, Berra, Griffiths, Bryson, Gilks (GK), McCormack, Pawlett, Reynolds
Scorers: Mulgrew 8; Egwuekwe own goal 54
Nigeria: Ejide, Odunlami (Ambrose 74), Egwuekwe, Yobo (c), Echiejile, Obi (Igiebor 53), Uzoenyi (Moses 61), Gabriel, Babatunde (Oduamadi 66), Uchebo (Odemwingie 54), Ameobi (Nwofor 61)
Substitutes not used: Oshaniwa, Oboabona, Agbim (GK), Azeez, Akpeyi (GK)
Scorers: Uchebo 41; Nwofor 89
Referee: Lee Probert
Despite the late equaliser, there are many worrying aspects for Keshi address before Nigeria enter a World Cup group with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia from which they are expected to advance.
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan
Keshi....Nigerian Coach
1 comment:
Goal keeper Ejide has just played basket ball instead of football, you judge for yourself . Looks suspect to our team of video experts and is not winter in London so that ball is not slippery .
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