Nigerians hammer depleted Argentina
Nigeria thrashed an Argentina B team in a friendly in Abuja tonight.
Ike Uche scored twice and Victor Obinna once to put the hosts three up at the break. Emmanuel Emenike made it four before Mauro Boselli scored a consolation for the South Americans with a penalty deep into stoppage time.
"We did very well. We started well, we gained confidence with the early goal and we could have scored more goals," said man of the match Uche. "This result will help us to prepare for Sunday's game. It will lift our confidence and we will keep working very hard to keep making the fans happy."
Argentina coach Sergio Batista had chosen an under-25 squad, mostly Europe-based, for the match, as he chose to rest most of his regular squad ahead of next month's Copa America.
We started well, we gained confidence with the early goal and we could have scored more goals.
Ike Uche, Nigeria forward
And those players handed the opportunity to impress failed to take it as Nigeria dominated from the outset. The Africans went in front after only nine minutes when Joel Obi's cross found Uche, whose shot was deflected into the net off defender Ezequiel Garay.
In the 27th minute Federico Fazio fouled Victor Anichebe in the area and Obinna made no mistake from the spot. And Uche grabbed his second by heading home a cross from the right. Emenike added a fourth early in the second half, running onto a long ball and finishing well.
Argentina made several substitutions and had chances to reduce the deficit but could not take them. They finally got on the scoreboard eight minutes into injury time - only five had been signalled - when Joseph Yobo was penalised for a handball and Boselli scored from the spot.
Argentina will look to recover when they take on Poland in Warsaw on Sunday. |