Players, coaches and officials of Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles are already looking up to Wednesday for victory in their second match of the ongoing West African Football Union (WAFU) zone-b qualifies for next year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, in order to make up for Sunday’s draw with Cote d’Ivoire.
Megasportsarena.com reports that a red card for promising lanky defender, Christopher Nwaeze and several lost chances in front of goal meant Coach Ladan Bosso’s side could not overrun their rivals from Cote d’Ivoire, who hit back from behind to force a 1-1 draw in the first Group B game at Stade Charles de Gaulles in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.
Bosso and his wards will now have to deal with another major West Coast rival, Ghana this Wednesday, in order to reach the semi-finals, after Ousmane Traore’s stoppage-time strike earned Cote d’Ivoire a point during the opening group game on Sunday.
The Flying Eagles put up a very determined performance despite the red card shown Nwaeze, whose goal ironically earlier appeared to have put Bosso’s side on course for an opening Group B win, but The Junior Elephants leveled late on.
Both sides created chances in an entertaining first half, with Peter Olawale and Nwaeze coming close for Nigeria, as the contest continued to be evenly balanced in the opening 45 minutes, but the opening goal eventually arrived on the hour mark.
It happened after 2019 Golden Eaglets’ striker, Wisdom Ubani sent an excellent delivery to the box and Nwaeze showed gratitude with a brilliant header beyond the keeper, only for him to lose his cool in the 71st minute and he was sent off for a second bookable offense.
Despite playing with a man down, the Flying Eagles maintained technical discipline and tactical awareness, but Traoré struck the equalizer in the first minute of added time, to ensure that the game ended 1-1 in Port Novo.
A report by the communications department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), however, added: “Ladan Bosso’s wards showed great strength in the opening game and will be looking at positives ahead of the clash with Ghana.
“The tournament in Benin Republic will serve as qualifiers for the 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Mauritania, which will, in turn, determine Africa’s representatives for the 2021 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia.
“The Flying Eagles who are in Group B will continue their campaign against Ghana’s Black Satellites on Wednesday at the Stade Charles de Gaulles in Porto Novo.”
