The Nigeria U20 team showed their resilience against their counterparts from Zambia to edge a competitive six goal thriller 2-4 in a pre U20 AFCON friendly game played at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja.
Ladan Bosso led side dominated the early proceedings with Ayuba Francis twice coming close to opening scoring. Danial Daga was also denied twice with long range efforts. On their parts Zambia were threatening in patches with Moses Mulenga in particular putting the Nigerian defence on the back foot.
Zambia were very resolute in defence but had no answer to the enterprising Haliru Sarki who was causing them all sort of problems cutting in from either flanks. His performance had the entire Zambian defence ratteled with goalkeeper Jeban Tembo forced into making two saves from his effort.
One was from a well hit freekick while the other was a drive after using his fancy footwork to displace two of his markers on the left. There was however no denying him in the 43rd minute as he rifled home the opener after a mazy solo run .
Sarki’s goal was the difference at half time but Zambia showed they didn’t come to Nigeria for a party when they drew level ten minutes after the break. A combination of indecision and poor goalkeeping allowed Derick Bulaya the chance to drag home his effort on the post Nathaniel Nwosu is guarding.
Nigeria immediately turned on the after burner with coach Ladan Bosso throwing in the quartet of Jude Sunday, Emmanuel Uchegbu, Nicholas Jonathan and Adams Olamilekan. The subs got in on the mix upon their introduction in a bid to restore the lead of the Nigerian team.
Three minutes after the half hour mark. Olamilekan who was guilted of missing a header after a diagonal pass from Sarki made amends with a firm header from a pin point delivery from Solomon Agbalaka.
Three minutes after retaking the lead, the Flying Eagles lost it again with Lasmond Phiri the quickest to react with a header after Nigeria failed to clear their lines from a corner kick. Again Nwosu was caught in no man’s land and didn’t have any form of connection with his defenders.
Not letting their head drop, Bosso introduced Benjamin Fredrick for Abel Ogwuche, and the Simoiben Football Academy graduate immediately showed why he is so highly rated with some command on the ball which was helping the team to build from the back.
15 minutes from full time, Olamilekan who has been troubling the Zambians with his physical presence and movements robbed Tembo off the ball as they tried to build from the back. He squared for his fellow substitute Uchegbu to help Nigeria regain their lead for the third time in the game.
Bosso added more guile to his midfield with the introduction of Samson Lawal and he showed his predatory instincts by finishing off a move started by Fredrick with a curler to put the game beyond the reach of Zambia. It could have been 5-2 but Olamilekan didn’t get the first touch required to finish off a well weighted pass from Jonathan.
The game ended 4-2 with both teams now turning their attention to the Africa U20 Cup of Nations which is the qualifiers for the U20 World Cup later in the year.
