Kelechi Iheanacho scored an 83rd minute penalty to secure Nigeria a 1-1 against Senegal in their international friendly at the Hive Stadium in London, Thursday.
Senegal went ahead early in the second period through Moussa Sow, but the Manchester City starlet ensured that the Eagles preserved their unbeaten record under new manager Gernot Rohr.
On a cold night in London, the full strength Teranga Lions made the brighter opening with Cheikou Kouyate and Idrissa Gueye pulling the strings, their best chance falling to Sow who struck the woodwork from close range.
Momentum swung the Eagles way when skipper for the night, Ogenyi Onazi was replaced midway through the first-half by John Ogu, the Hapoel Baer Sheva man stringing some useful combinations with Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho, playing in a false 9 position, twice went close for the Eagles: first, he blasted a low shot across goal before squandering from point-blank range after neat combinations from Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.
Senegal came back stronger at the restart, their territorial dominance paying off after 54 minutes when Sow made the most of a defensive blunder to give Aliou Cisse’s men the lead.
Rohr threw on Ogenekaro Etebo and debutant, Isaac Success, the former almost having an immediate impact off an Eagles counter as he saw his shot parried by goalkeeper Pape Ndiaye.
But Ndiaye could do little to stop Iheanacho from the spot after he’d tripped him in the area, the youngster converting for his fifth international goal to ensure a share of the spoils.
Next up for the Eagles is their second friendly encounter against Burkina Faso at the same venue on Monday.
