The Flying Eagles had to fight back from a goal down today before they could beat hard-fighting NNL side EFCC FC 2-1 in a test game.
The NNL side stunned the Flying Eagles in the second half after a goalless first half during which they made it difficult for the national team to penetrate their defence despite all the pressure.
However, the Flying Eagles drew level almost immediately when skipper Yahaya Ibrahim fired from the right beyond the diving goalkeeper.
But the coach Ladan Bosso-led team had to wait till late before they will snatch the winner, when substitute Haliru Sarki beat the EFCC shot stopper in a one-on-one.
A speedy winger Sarki has now added scoring goals to his game.
It was a stern test for the national team with tackles flying everywhere.
“This is the kind of physical test they will come up against at the U20 AFCON in Egypt and good enough they came through,” a team official told SCORENigeria after the bruising encounter.
Top scorer at the qualifiers in May with four goals Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Ibeji’ made his first start after rejoining the team this week.
He ought to have been more clinical in the first half when he was face-to-face with the EFCC goalkeeper, but he chose to make a pass.
The Flying Eagles will need to improve on their finishing especially against top opposition.
