The Super Eagles, who started the game at Craven Cottage with a listless squad, settled for a 2 - 2 draw with four - time world champions Italy on Monday night.

Sunderland attacking midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini equalized in the 47th minute to prevent the Italians from losing the match to the African champions.

It was the Azzurri who took the lead after 12 minutes thanks to Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi, who was released by Mario Balotelli.

In the 35th minute, experienced Shola Ameobi’s inch perfect cross located Bright Dike and despite the challenge of Manuel Pasqual nodded the ball past Sirigu for Nigeria’s equalizer.

The euphoria that greeted the goal had not even died down when Ameobi, in his fifth appearance for the National Team, fired in a volley after he was set up by Benjamin Francis six minutes to the end of the first half.

The second half witnessed near misses by both teams and the 2 - 2 scoreline was a fair result.