Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Ecuador vs. Nigeria - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 31 May 2022, 22:49
Two sides in need of a morale-boosting result go head to head on Thursday when Ecuador and Nigeria lock horns in a mouthwatering friendly fixture at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena.

La Tri head into the game on a run of five consecutive games without a win, while the Super Eagles have failed to taste victory in each of their last four outings across all competitions.

Match preview

Ecuador failed to arrest their slump in form in their most recent outing on March 30, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Argentina on home turf.

La Tri have now failed to win any of their last five outings across all competitions, including their final four outings in the World Cup qualifiers, picking up four draws and losing one since last November's 2-0 win over Chile.

Despite a poor end to their World Cup qualification campaign, an early run of form saw Gustavo Alfaro's men secure a place in Qatar after picking up 26 points from 18 games to finish two points above fifth-placed Peru in the playoffs spot.

Ecuador will fancy their chances of arresting their slump in form as they return home, where they are unbeaten in six consecutive games, picking up three wins and three draws since a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Peru in June 2021.

Nigeria, on the other hand, failed to kick-off their friendlies on a good note as they fell to a 2-1 at the hands of Mexico when the sides squared off on Sunday.

After falling behind to Santiago Gimenez's first-half opener, Feyenoord forward Cyriel Dessers restored parity nine minutes into the second period before Watford defender William Troost-Ekong scored an own goal to hand El Tri a slender victory.

Prior to that, the Super Eagles saw their hopes of making a seventh World Cup appearance later this year come to an end when they were beaten on the away goal rule by rivals Ghana back in March.

Nigeria have now failed to win any of their last four games across all competitions, picking up two draws and loaning two since January's 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The West African giants have also failed to taste victory in 10 consecutive friendly outings, losing five and picking up five draws since a narrow 1-0 win over Egypt back in March 2019.

Ecuador International Friendlies form:

Ecuador form (all competitions):

Nigeria International Friendlies form:

Nigeria form (all competitions):

Team News

Alfaro has called up 25 players for their upcoming friendlies against Nigeria and Mexico, including Villarreal full-back Pervis Estupian and the Brighton & Hove Albion duo of midfielder Moises Caicedo and forward Jeremy Sarmiento.

Caicedo should be joined at the centre of the park by Alexander Alvarado and Charlotte FC man Alan Franco, while Robert Arboleda and Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie should form the centre-back pairing, shielding Hernan Galindez in goal.

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Leonardo Campana, who scored seven goals in 14 appearances on loan at Inter Miami, should spearhead the attack, alongside Fenerbahce forward Enner Valencia.

As for Nigeria, Dessers maintained his fine goalscoring form with his strike against Mexico last time out and should be rewarded with another starting role in attack.

Off the back of an impressive midfield performance, Joe Aribo should retain his spot at the heart of the park, teaming up with Everton star Alex Iwobi and Stoke City's Oghene Etebo.

At the defensive end of the pitch, we should see an unchanged back four of Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Troost-Ekong and Chidozie Awaziem, with 23-year-old Francis Uzoho between the sticks.

Ecuador possible starting lineup:

Galindez; Castillo, Hincapie, Arboleda, Estupinan; Franco, Caicedo, Alvarado, Plata; Campana, Valencia

Nigeria possible starting lineup:

Uzoho; Bassey, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Awaziem; Etobo, Aribo, Iwobi; Simon, Dessers, Moffi

We say: Ecuador 1-2 Nigeria

Ecuador and Nigeria have struggled for results and we expect them to take the game to each other in search of a morale-boosting win. However, we are backing the Super Eagles to come away with a slender victory as they boast a slightly superior crop of players scattered across all departments of the pitch.

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon.