Flying Eagles share spoils with Egypt

An inexperienced Nigeria U20 side impressed and held their Egyptian counterparts to a 0-0 draw in an international friendly on Monday.

Coach Paul Aigbogun named Detan Ogundare, Mike Zaruma, Ikouwem Udo, Mubarak Abdulsalam, Valantine Ozonwofor, Mohammed Jamil, Asuquo Aneikeme, Abubakar Ibrahim, Alhassan Ibrahim, Akila Jesse and Alalade Wasiu in the starting XI of the Flying Eagles.

The first half produced a number of entertaining moments, but the second period failed to match it as neither side could produce a goal in Alexandria.

Either side could have taken the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Asuquo’s low drive from the left found Alalade at the back post, but the Enyimba forward could only smash it onto the side of the net.

The Young Pharaohs who resorted to a 4-4-2 formation created chances of their own but they were foiled by Kogi United keeper Detan who had a great game.

While the Flying Eagles are preparing to play the winner of Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau in the second round of the 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations qualification series in mid-May, the Pharaohs already know they will be up against Senegal’s Junior Lions of the Teranga for a place in the final qualifying campaign.