It was an absorbing match full of action. When the final whistle sounded some minutes ago at the Craven Cottage in London, it was Italy 2, Nigeria 2.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi had made wholesale changes to his starting team for the Grade A friendly, throwing in second choice goalkeeper Austin Ejide as well as other non-regulars such as Solomon Kwambe, Bright Dike and Shola Ameobi.

At first it appeared to be a mistake, with the Italians dominating the early stages and the attack marshaled by Mario Balotelli putting the African champions under intense pressure. It took only 12 minutes for the Eagles to bow to the pressure, with Rossi connecting home a Balotelli pass to go one goal up.

The Eagles, however, gradually came into the game, with Dike heading home an Ameobi cross to level scores in the 35^th minute. Five minutes later Ameobi volleyed home a left cross to put Nigeria in the driving seat.

The Azzuri came into the second half smoking hot and it took them only a minute to get back on terms after Giacherinni connected home a Balotelli cross.

Ejide, who pulled off amazing saves, picked up an injury and had to make way for Enyeama in the 64^th minute, just as Keshi pulled out Dike and Ameobi for Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa.

When both teams met on July 5, 1994, the Italians downed the Super Eagles 2-1 in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in the USA. Many Nigerians will not forget how the Eagles were two minutes away from a famous upset after Emmanuel Amuneke had scored first before Roberto Baggio equalised and then scored the winner in extra time.

Interestingly, Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi and his assistant, Daniel Amokachi were part of the 1994 set.

“There’s no plan for a revenge. It’s a test game for the team and we will treat it as such. At the same, we’ll take it serious,” Keshi had said before the match.

•Photo shows Bright Dike celebrating a goal.

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