Mexico and Nigeria played out a goalless draw inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in an international friendly in the early hours of yesterday.
It was the third successive draw between the two teams in the space of six years.
Nigerian head coach, Stephen Keshi, handed Cercle Brugges big forward, Michael Uchebo, his senior debut.
But Mexico head coach, opted for a 5-3-2 formation with five men at the back to check the pacy Nigerians.
The pace of the African champions troubled the Mexicans in the early minutes of the game with Uchebo combining well with Emmanuel Emenike.
Eleven minutes into the contest, Emenike burst into a powerful run and racing through the Mexican defence. But his right-footed shot was palmed away by Guillermo Ochoa in goal.
Within a minute, Ochoa had to make another big save to keep out Ogenyi Onazi’s attempt at goal.
It was all Nigeria at this point, as Victor Moses stole the ball in midfield from a hesitant Hector Herrera Rubio on 18 minutes. The Liverpool man ran all the way towards Mexico’s goal but could just manage to shoot off target from the edge of the box.
Mexico’s El Tri began to play themselves back into the contest and on 26 minutes, Vincent Enyeama pulled off a big save off a Rafael Marquez’s header.
With 10 minutes to the break, Enyeama once again had to tip away a cross from the right side to keep Manchester United striker, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez from getting on the end of it.
Though Nigeria finished the first half stronger, it was the Mexicans who began the business end with intent despite Keshi sending on Austin Ejide, Ramon Azeez and Leon Balogun to replace Enyeama, Efe Ambrose and Uchebo, respectively.
On 56 minutes, Ahmed Musa was played through on goal by Emenike but opted to go for a side-footed strike which Ochoa unconventional blocked.
Eight minutes later Moses ran in behind Mexico’s defence and squared a pass into Azeez’s path but the UD Almeria man side-footed the chance wide.
Mexico came close to breaking the deadlock with six minutes to time when Alan Pulido headed off target by inches from close range.
The Mexicans continued to press for a goal and it was Pulido again who attempted a right-footed shot which Ejide gathered easily.
Nigeria, however, had one last chance to take a pop at goal but Nsofor’s disappointing strike brought the game to an end on a stalemate.
In May 2003, both teams played out a 2-2 draw after they had previously played another draw in 2007.
