Enyeama, Onazi: Mexico warm-up more than a friendly

Super Eagles stars Vincent Enyeama, Ogenyi Onazi and Juwon Oshaniwa have said next month’s World Cup warm-up against Mexico will be taken very seriously as it could determine their places in the Brazil 2014 World Cup squad.

The Super Eagles face fellow World Cup finalists Mexico on March 5 in Atalanta, Georgia, USA, as they step up their preparations for the World Cup in Brazil in June.

Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama said a favourable outcome would lift team confidence.

“The game will be a good one for us, it will boost our confidence level as the World Cup approaches,” the Lille star said.

Juwon Oshaniwa told MTNFootball.com that he expects a tough match from Mexico and Nigeria will be up for it.

“A friendly match is not usually about winning, but how the team play, how the team has improved and to know where to work on, but that is not saying we are not taking the game seriously,” said the Israel-based left back.

“Personally, I will put in my very best in the game, which I know others in the team will do.”

CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa said Nigeria will aim for victory against Mexico.

“It is going to be a tough game, Mexico are no small team and will give us good test. We as a team love winning and that is what Nigerians love too, we will go there to do our best to achieve that,” Musa said.

Ogenyi Onazi also said they hope for a good result.

“Nigerians want good result in every game we play and that show they love the team, that exactly what we will try to do against Mexico. It is going to be a tough game no doubt,” Onazi said.

The previous two meetings between both nations ended in draws with the first being in 2007 in Mexico and the last was in Houston, USA, in 2013.