Super Eagles to play Ecuador in New Jersey five days after licking horns with Mexico

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have confirmed that the Super Eagles will play a second pre-World Cup friendly game in the US in June when they take on Ecuador in New Jersey on June 2.

Still reeling from the effects of missing out on the World Cup in Qatar this year, Nigeria is having to console herself with playing friendly matches against teams that qualified for the tournament. On May 28, Nigeria will take on Mexico's national team known as El tri at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Now, it has been confirmed that five days later, the Eagles fly from Texas to New Jersey for a clash with the South Americans. A deal conforming the match has been signed between the NFF and the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol.

Both teams will clash at the 25,000-capacity Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, which is home to Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. This stadium which opened in March 2010, is ultra-modern.

Ecuador, currently ranked 46th in the world by Fifa, reached the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup  in Germany. That tournament was Ecuador's second appearance in the World Cup, following their debut Japan/Korea 2002.

Nigeria have participated in the World Cup finals on six occasions, reaching last 16 in 1994, 1998 and 2014. This time around, however, Nigeria failed to qualify for Qatar 2022, losing out to Ghana at the final hurdle.