Congo DR scored a second half penalty to hold the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in a friendly game decided at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium in Port Hacourt.
Nigeria started the game the better side with Simy Nwankwo shaving the bar with a left footed effort after evading his marker with a slick move inside the box of the Congolese.
Francis Odinaka Uzoho in goal for Nigeria was forced into a save with his foot. A save which the young Deportivo La Coruna shot stopper had to adjust his body to make as the ball was drifting away from him.
NPFL top scorer Junior Lokosa drew a foul with a sleek touch which helped him evade his marker and from the resultant freekick taken by Ogenyi Onazi, Kelechi Iheanacho took advantage of a misunderstanding in the backline of Congo DR to set up William Troost-Ekong for the only goal of the half.
A raft of second half substitutions helped Nigeria regained the lead in terms of possession but the closet they came to scoring was when Etebo tried to lob the Congo DR defender after he was caught off his line trying to clear a ball.
Ola Aina was harshly judged to have fouled his man inside the box with replays showing that the contact was outside the box but the referee pointed to the spot and Congo DR levelled from the resultant spot kick.
Tried as they could Nigeria failed to regain the lead and the game which is the farewell game for the Nigerian team ended 1-1 despite five minutes of time added on after regulation time.
Michael James
