Paul Onuachu’s second-half penalty was not enough to hand Nigeria victory as Poland struck deep into stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw in an entertaining international friendly in Warsaw on Wednesday night.
The Super Eagles looked set to continue their impressive run under Eric Chelle after twice taking the lead against the European hosts, only to be denied by a dramatic late equaliser at the PGE Narodowy Stadium.
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Terem Moffi, who capped a well-worked attacking move with a composed finish to put the visitors ahead. The goal rewarded a bright start from the Super Eagles, who showed confidence in possession and posed a constant threat on the counterattack.
Poland responded just before the interval when Kacper Potulski found the net in first-half stoppage time, ensuring both sides went into the dressing room level after an evenly contested opening 45 minutes.
The second half saw Nigeria regain control of proceedings and create several promising opportunities. Their persistence paid off in the 77th minute when Onuachu calmly converted from the penalty spot to restore the Super Eagles’ advantage. The striker’s finish appeared to have secured a valuable away victory for Eric Chelle’s side as the match entered its closing stages.
However, Poland had the final say. With virtually the last action of the match, defender Przemyslaw Wisniewski struck in the 95th minute to rescue a draw for the hosts and leave Nigeria frustrated after coming within moments of victory. (ESPN)
Despite the disappointing ending, there were several positives for the Super Eagles. Moffi continued his fine form in national team colours, while Onuachu once again demonstrated his value in front of goal.
The result extends Nigeria’s unbeaten run in recent outings and provides another useful test for Chelle as he continues to shape his squad ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures.
The Super Eagles will now shift their attention to their next international assignment, with the coaching crew expected to assess the lessons from a match that showcased both Nigeria’s attacking quality and the need for greater concentration in the closing moments.
