It was a full house as the Flying Eagles led by coach Ladan Bosso trained at the MKO Abiola National Stadium practice pitch Tuesday morning with several foreign-based call-ups like Joel Ihedo from Arsenal and Turkey-based defender Michael Ologo in action.
After tactical drills and finishing routines, Bosso split the squad into what looked like his first team as against a reserve side.
The test match-up ended scoreless as both sides lacked bite upfront.
Arsenal U21 star Ihedo is a winger and not a striker as widely reported. He displayed some magical jinking runs down the flanks.
Crystal Palace striker Ademola Ola-Adebomi, who played for the second team, has an imposing physique, but will need to do a lot more on the evidence of what he produced in this training game.
The Premier League club have said the striker will only train for three days after which they expect the Flying Eagles to decide on his selection.
Much-improved Haliru Sarki tested the reflexes of Team B goalkeeper Chijoke Anigboso with a stunning header.
Skipper Yahaya Ibrahim did not take part in training with officials saying he is being rested after complaints of some muscular problems.
There was no place for the team’s top star at the U20 AFCON qualifiers in May, Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Ibeji’, who appears to be short on match fitness.
The winger fired four goals in the qualifiers.
Starting Team A (4-3-3) – Nathanial Nwosu – Solomon Agbalaka, Augustine Njoku, Michael Ologo, Daniel Bamaiyi – Ogbole Onuche, Daniel Daga, Nicholas Jonathan – Jude Sunday, Haliru Sarki, Kenny Coker
Starting Team B (4-3-3) – Chijoke Anigboso – Dominion Ohaka, Hassan Shaibu, Abel Ogwuche, Benjamin Federicks – Hamzat Ojediran, Aminu Mohammed, Samson Lawal – Joel Ihedo, Olamilekan Adams, Ademola Ola-Adebomi