Costa Rica National Team vs. Nigeria
First reported May 30, 2011 · Updated October 28, 2026
May 30, 2011 | San José, Costa Rica
Costa Rica defeated Nigeria 1-0 in an international friendly at the Estadio Nacional in San José on Sunday, May 29, 2011. Diego Madrigal scored the winner in the 87th minute, giving coach Ricardo La Volpe a positive result in a match that also brought several young Costa Rican players into the senior national-team picture.
The game was particularly notable for the appearances of Joel Campbell, José Salvatierra and Francisco Calvo. The three players represented fresh options for La Sele as its coaching staff assessed the squad ahead of a busy international calendar.
A match settled near the final whistle
The first half ended without a goal. La Volpe’s starting side included goalkeeper Keylor Navas, defenders Salvatierra, Dennis Marshall, Johnny Acosta and Junior Díaz, along with Campbell and established attacker Álvaro Saborío. Costa Rica had opportunities to evaluate combinations across the pitch without the pressure of a competitive tournament result.
Changes after the interval were decisive. Francisco Calvo replaced Dennis Marshall in the 59th minute, the same minute Diego Madrigal came on for Alen Guevara. Those substitutions placed the eventual scorer on the field for the closing stages. Madrigal broke the deadlock with three minutes left in regulation time, and Costa Rica held on to win.
The contemporary match record lists Joel Campbell as a starter who was replaced by Josué Martínez in the 72nd minute. His selection drew interest because Costa Rica was balancing preparations for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Copa América and FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Young players enter the senior setup
Salvatierra’s involvement demonstrated that La Volpe was willing to use a young fullback against international opposition. Campbell, already known as a promising forward, faced the additional task of earning playing time while attracting attention at youth level. Calvo’s second-half appearance gave him an early taste of senior international football.
A friendly match provides a useful testing environment, but it does not by itself determine how a player will perform in competitive internationals. The significance of this fixture lies both in the result and in the opportunities given to emerging players.
For spectators at the new Estadio Nacional, the late winner provided a memorable finish. The stadium had opened earlier in 2011, and international games quickly became part of its new role as a central venue for national-team football.
What happened next
The early appearances by Campbell and Calvo were the beginning of far longer international careers. Both would later represent Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup. The May 2011 Nigeria friendly therefore stands as an early entry in the national-team record for a generation of Costa Rican players.
Questions and answers
What was the final score? Costa Rica beat Nigeria 1-0.
Who scored? Diego Madrigal scored in the 87th minute.
When and where was the match played? May 29, 2011, at the Estadio Nacional in San José.
Which young Costa Ricans featured? Joel Campbell and José Salvatierra started; Francisco Calvo came on after halftime.