On his debut, Leon Best started the game at Fulham's Craven Cottage straight away and was soon involved in Ireland's first attack. Best was sent clear but a combination of the keeper and a defender denied him.
Former Sky Blue Robbie Keane was the captain and in the 27th minute, he played in the well marshalled Best but a terrifc tackle from Sodje saw the ball go for a corner.
Two minutes later, Nigeria took the lead when Mike Eneramo swept the ball past Shay Given from eleven yards.
Ireland were level in the 37th minute when Robbie Keane hit his 39th international goal when Keith Andrews played him in to dance round the keeper who had a minute earlier denied Best with a header which went off the post, to score.
Three minutes before the break, the 22 year old Best moved to the right and got a shot in which was blocked for a corner. Nothing came of it and it was 1-1 at half-time.
Robbie Keane went off at the break which also saw Coventry City keeper Keiren Westwood, who wore the number sixteen shirt replace Shay Given for his full international debut.
Neither City player had much to do in the first fifteen minutes of the second half.
Best won a 72nd minute corner and three minutes later got in a looping header which was caught by the keeper.
Nigeria looked the more threatening in the latter stages of the game but Westwood did not have a save to make as the game petered out into a draw.
Ireland's next game is a World Cup Qualifier in Bulgaria next Saturday. The game is on Setanta and kicks off at 6.30pm.