The Flying Eagles of Nigeria held their own against arch-rivals Ghana in the opening match of the WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament, securing a 1-1 draw at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Thursday.
According to Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu, the match was intense due to the historic rivalry between the two teams, with Ghana seeking revenge after Nigeria’s win in the WAFU AFCON qualifier final.
“Generally, it was a good match. The Ghanaians came all out, wanting to take revenge,and that makes the game more physical,” Zubairu said.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the Flying Eagles showed resilience, improving their performance in the second half to earn an equalizer through Muhammed Abdullahi in the 84th minute, canceling out Azis Misbau’s first-half strike.
Zubairu praised his team’s effort, considering it was their first match. “The boys rose to the occasion and performed better in the second half to get the equalizer. Generally, considering it was the first match, the boys still gave a good account of themselves.”
The draw sets the stage for Nigeria’s next challenge against Benin Republic on Sunday, where a win would significantly boost their chances of advancing in the tournament.