Flying Eagles battle Ghana to 1-1 draw in WAFU-B U-20 clash

By Olaolu Joseph –

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their WAFU-B U-20 Boys Tournament campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against hosts Ghana on Thursday at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

The Ghanaians had taken the lead in the first half through Azis Misbau and looked set to secure all three points until Muhammed Abdullahi struck an 84th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for Nigeria.

The match was intense and physical, reflecting the historic rivalry between both sides. Ghana came out strong in a bid to avenge their defeat to Nigeria in the WAFU AFCON qualifier final.

In his post-match reaction, Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu described the game as a tough contest, noting that the Ghanaians were determined and aggressive from the onset.

“Generally, it was a good match. The Ghanaians came all out, wanting to take revenge, and that made the game more physical,” Zubairu said.

Despite the pressure, Zubairu praised his team’s resilience and ability to improve in the second half. He noted that the equaliser was a result of better coordination and composure after the break.

“The boys rose to the occasion and performed better in the second half to get the equalizer. Considering it was the first match, they gave a good account of themselves,” he added.

The Flying Eagles will now shift focus to their second group match against Benin Republic on Sunday, with a win crucial to boosting their chances of progressing in the tournament.