Dominion Ohaka caught the eye and the Super Eagles B team posted a decent performance, but it was not enough as hosts Costa Rica won 2-0 on their way to the World Cup in Qatar.
SUPER EAGLES TEAM B LOST TO COSTA RICA IN A FRIENDLY SHOWDOW 🇳🇬⚽🇳🇬
— Sport Guild (@Sportguild2022) November 10, 2022
Full Time: CostaRica 🇨🇷 2 – 0 🇳🇬Nigeria
[O. Duarte '7, K. Waston '73] pic.twitter.com/CJ0ZYDdYNO
Water FC rightback Ohaka showed class in the first half for the Eagles second-string side made up of players mostly from the NPFL.
Many viewers who watched the game live on Facebook demanded Ohaka be promoted to the main Super Eagles based on what he showed on the day.
The Nigeria U23 star was very comfortable on the ball going forward and produced some decent crosses, but the team’s strike force did not have enough confidence to really trouble the defence of Costa Rica.
Second-half substitute Sunday Faleye also showed some glimpses of the player who shone at the 2018 CHAN.
However, Sweden-based central defender Isaiah Ejeh was lucky not be sent off for a rugby-like tackle in the second half and crowned a below-par outing by helping home Costa Rica’s second goal by Kendall Watson.
The opening goal was from a long-distance free kick and while the Nigerian defenders were ball watching, Oscar Duarte poked it home early in the first half past goalkeeper and skipper Kayode Bankole as the packed National Stadium in San Jose erupted in joy.
The Eagles B team can only build on this performance as the core of the team continues to prepare for an U23 AFCON final playoff against Guinea in March.