Expectedly, the Nigeria Amputees football team fell by 3-nil to defending champions, Russia, in their second group game of the ongoing Mexico 2018 Amputees Football World Cup, on Monday night at the Lomas Verdes Centre, San Juan. Goals by Igor, Adam Mesiev and Dmitri Udalov.
The team had lost 6-0 to South America champions, Brazil, in their opening game and first ever World Cup match and the Russians had hoped to make a mince meat of them for a higher margin in turn, especially with the Nigerians left with a scanty reserve bench coupled with injury to top player, Bamgbopa Abayomi.
Coach Victor Nwenwe however changed approach, including introducing goal keeper Sani Adeiza, to curb a possible field day for the defending champions. The shoreline leaves Russia in second place in the group after their 4-0 defeat of El Salvador who also fell 0-1 to Brazil in the group.
Nigeria play their third group game on Tuesday night, taking on El Salvador in a game in which they are expected to demonstrate they have learnt fast after their debut.
In other fixtures, Angola, African champions and finalists at the last World Cup, defeated Spain through Celestino Elias lone goal, while Kenya beat the USA by 2-1. Liberia however lost to former champions, Turkey.
