Super Eagles’ goalkeepers John Noble and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as
forward Anayo Iwuala top the list of 25 players invited to camp for
next month’s international friendly match between Nigeria and Mexico
at the famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the State of
California, United States of America.
Three –time African champions Nigeria will clash with the CONCACAF
Gold Cup holders on Saturday, 3rd July in what is part of the
Mexican’s MexTour Series that will see them play three matches before
clashing with Nigeria.
Also invited are Rivers’ United ace defender Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enyimba
FC midfielder Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers
International) and Stephen Jude (Kwara United).
The players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye,
Abuja on Tuesday, 22nd June with their travel documents. Only 22 of
them will travel to the United States of America for the glamour
friendly.
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The match, which kicks off at 7.30pm LA time will be the sixth
confrontation between the senior teams of both countries, four of
which have ended in draws. The only win in the series has gone to
Mexico, when they trumped a US Gold Cup encounter in Dallas (State of
Texas) 2-1 on 24th June 1995.
Close-fought confrontations include a 1-1 draw at the FIFA
Intercontinental Tournament for the King Fahd Cup (now FIFA
Confederations Cup) in Saudi Arabia on 13th January 1995 (Mexico
prevailed 5-4 on penalties in the quarter final match), and 0-0 draws
in friendly matches in Houston and Atlanta the previous decade. A
friendly game in Mexico also ended 2-2.
It is expected that the LA Coliseum, a 77,500 –capacity facility that
has hosted major international championships of all all grades, will
be at full capacity for the friendly match.
NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, said while
announcing the encounter last month: “We are happy to be able to
announce this match, which is a clash between two very big teams from
two different continents. Mexico against Nigeria is a big match any
day and the venue is class.”
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); John Noble (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors);
Tope Olusesi (Rangers International); Ifeanyi Anaemena (Rivers
United); Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United); Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers
United); Mohammed Zirkiflu (Plateau United); Imoh Ubot (Enyimba FC);
Tebo Franklin Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara
United)
Midfielders: Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa
United); Uche Nwasonaya (Plateau United); Samuel Nnoshiri (Katsina
United); Ekundayo Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Forwards: Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Stephen Jude (Kwara United);
Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International); Charles Ashimene (Akwa
United); Chinonso Ezekwe (Rangers International); Auwalu Ali Malam
(Kano Pillars); Neurot Emmanuel (Plateau United); Abdulmutalif Sanusi
(Katsina United)
