by Isi Esene

The Super Eagles of Nigeria early this morning beat the national team of Venezuela by 3 – 1.

The friendly match which was played in Miami, US, saw striker, Shola Ameobi making his Eagles debut.

Nigeria dominated at the start of the match with strikers Obafemi Martins, Brown Ideye, and Bright Dike making things difficult for the Venezuelan defence.

The first half ended with the Eagles having the better of possession but the Venezuelans had more goal scoring chances.

In the second half, the Super Eagles came out more determined showing more purpose and their efforts was crowned with a goal in the 47th minute through Ideye.

A move started on the right by Igiebor saw Kwambe deliver a low cross into the box which was tapped in by the Dynamo Moscow striker for his first goal for the national team.

Igiebor followed that with a spectacular 40-yard shot in the 53rdminute that beat Hernandez in goal for Venezuela all ends up.

These goals unsettled the Venezuelan team who struggled to re-enact their first half performance. They finally got their much expected goal through Veltra who beat Nigeria’s keeper, Ejide.

They were let back into the game when an otherwise steady Oboabona gave possession to Arango, who in turn fed Frank Veltra, who placed a low shot past Ejide.

Arango now led the charge for the equaliser and they had series of corner kicks but the Nigerian defence held firm. Shola Ameobi replaced Martins in the 61st minute – the Newcastle man making his international debut for Nigeria.

Onazi settled the affair in added time as he swept in a low shot after Ameobi has passed to him in the box to make it 3-1 to the Nigerian team.

This is another victory for Coach Stephen Keshi who is on course to restructure the national team with a view to bringing back the national team’s faded glory.