Martins double earns Super Eagles draw
Two goals from Newcastle United forward Obafemi Martins earned Nigeria a 2-2 draw with Mexico in an international friendly in the Mexican city of Juarez on Saturday.
The two-time African champions, led by German coach Berti Vogts, turned in an impressive performance as they continue their build-up to the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana in January.
The Super Eagles were disappointed to miss out on the 2006 World Cup finals and would have secured their first victory over their Mexican opponents, had substitute Ikechukwu Uche not failed to convert a last minute penalty which would have given them certain victory.
Martins was a constant threat throughout and had already forced Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa into a superb early stop before giving Nigeria the lead in the 32nd minute when he fired a crisp shot into the far corner, before doubling the Super Eagles lead shortly after the re-start.
The striker found space on the left hand side and finished brilliantly with his left foot. The sides had met only twice before, with Mexico winning one and drawing one. At this stage of the game, it looked as though their undefeated streak was coming to an end but Juan Carlos Cacho reduced arrears by heading home an Israel Castro cross and he struck again after 68 minutes, converting a penalty awarded for a foul on Giovani dos Santos by Taye Taiwo.
Nigeria had been without African Football of the Year Nwankwo Kanu as the Portsmouth striker was ruled out with a thigh strain.
Nigeria will continue building up for the three-week African football showpiece with friendlies against Australia in London on November 17 and Switzerland in Berne three days later.
In other matches, Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara scored a late penalty as Senegal defeated Guinea 3-1. Babacar Gueye and Mamadou Niang also scored for Senegal and Fode Mansare was the Guinea marksman.
Senegal were without the controversial Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf, a former two-time African Footballer of the Year, who quit international football last week in a fall out over alledged poor administration of the national team squad.
