By Segun Oniyide
Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach insists that none of the players that played against El Tri of Mexico in a friendly on Thursday morning is guaranteed a role in the final squad as Nigeria intensify preparation for the World Cup in Brazil.
The African champions forced the Mexicans to a goalless draw in the match played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, USA before a crowd of 68,212. Keshi featured a few new players in the squad as Germany-based Leon Balogun and Standard Liege midfielder Imoh Ezekiel got the first cap.
This is not the final squad; nobody is guaranteed a spot,” Keshi told the Associated Press after the match,We didn’t really play our style. We’ve been out for about four or five months with different teams and different styles. That’s why I’m glad we played a team like Mexico that keeps the ball on the ground.”
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made two of his three first-half saves within a minute of each other, first in the 12th minute when Nigerian forward Emmanuel Emenike snaked his way past the defence only to have Ochoa punch away his shot from about 20 yards
Nigerian captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had to make only one save in the first half. He was replaced in the second half by Austin Ejide, who was much busier as Mexico built tempo after halftime.
