The Flying Eagles line up before defeating NPFL side Lobi Stars in Abuja on Saturday morning.
By Ed Malik, A | December 22, 2022
ed@ddnewsonline.com
After some gruelling rounds of tests with some Nigerian Professional Football League club sides, the Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso has been released the U-20 players on a two-week recess to celebrate the Yuletide holiday with their loved ones and are expected to resume camp in the first week of January for the final phase of preparations ahead of the Final Tournament of the Africa U20 in Egypt.
The Nigeria’s U-20 boys showed class and turned back NPFL side, Lobi Stars 2-0 on Saturday morning at FIFA Goal Project AstroTurf in Abuja, to round off the first phase of the team’s preparations for the forthcoming Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Haliru Sarki broke the deadlock in a closely-fought game with a well-taken free kick in the 76th minute, and 10 minutes later, prolific Olusegun Otusanya sealed the victory for the team after an assist from Dominion Ohaka. The stunning win was the second for the U-20 boys in three games against some NPFL sides.
Earlier on Friday, the Egypt-bound team forced Nasarawa United to a 1-1 draw with Olamilekan Adams scoring the equaliser four minutes to the end of the game.
On Thursday, the Ladan Bosso-led team knocked Wikki Tourists 2-0 with goals from Olamilekan Adams and Olusegun Otusanya stamping the win for the seven-time African Champions.
The win against Lobi Stars was the eighth game the Flying Eagles had played (with seven wins and a draw) since the team opened camp on 28th November.
The upcoming TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023 will be played between 19 February and 11 March 2023.
Meanwhile, the Draw Ceremony for the U-20 AFCON is billed to take place in Cairo, Egypt on Friday, 23rd December.
The qualified countries are hosts Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, The Gambia, Uganda, South Sudan, Mozambique, Zambia, Central African Republic and Congo.