Nigeria Hold Jamaica To A Draw

It was the third draw between the two teams in six matches.

The Super Eagles capped Tunisia-based striker Michael Eneramo late in a game which produced few chances between both teams.

The main talking point of this encounter was the sending off in the 44th minute of Jermaine Johnson of Jamaica and Nigeria's Taye Taiwo after both players were involved in an altercation.

After a tentative start, mostly due to the bitterly cold weather in London, the Reggae Boys of Jamaica gradually warmed up to take control of the game but could not get behind the Nigerian defence.

Nigeria's best chance of the first half fell to Russia-based Osaze Odemwingie in the 28th minute when his glancing header missed target narrowly.

Otherwise, it was a largely disappointing shift for the Eagles as they struggled to put together passes among themselves, and relied more on their individual skills to get around.

Jamaica came closest to taking the lead on 50 minutes when Norway-based striker Luton Shelton exploited slack defending by Danny Shittu but his final effort let him down.

In the 56th minute, Uche's shot off a right-wing cross by Nsofor was scrambled away by the Jamaica goalkeeper. And moments later Shittu's goal-bound header was tipped away by the Jamaica goalkeeper.

Getafe striker Uche produced a downward header from a cross by substitute Onyekachi Apam only to be denied again by Sawyer.

In the end though, the draw was a fair outcome for both teams.

Nigeria Line-up:
Austin Ejide - Chidi Odiah, Taye Taiwo, Joseph Yobo, Danny Shittu - Seyi Olofinjana, Nwankwo Kanu (Onyekachi Apam 46), Obinna Nsofor, Mikel Obi - Ikechukwu Uche (Michael Eneramo 85), Osaze Odemwingie (Kalu Uche 75)

Samm Audu, Goal.com