By Chris Wright
As expected, the great Shola Ameobi well and truly upstaged Mario Balotelli as Nigeria drew 2-2 with Italy’s B string in a friendly at Craven Cottage last night, with the lanky Newcastle striker putting the Super Eagles 2-1 up shortly before half-time with a well-taken, leaping near-post volley…
Giuseppe Rossi opened the scoring for Italy on his first start for the Azzurri in roughly one million years, before a quick two-goal salvo from Nigerian duo Bright Dike (no giggling at the back, please) and Ameobi put the African side 2-1 up the break.
Three minutes after the restart, Sunderland midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini slotted home an equaliser for Italy, who then set about clanging shots off the Nigerian woodwork for the rest of the game until full-time was eventually called with the scores somehow still level.