The Nigeria U20 team stepped up their preparation for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations by playing three straight test games and came out on top in all three games in style.
Kano based Barau Academy were the first to taste the fire of the Ladan Bosso led side when they were thrashed 5-0. Bosso’s team triumphed with Samson Lawal scoring a brace from freekicks.
Segun Otusanya got a brace of his own as well in between a solitary strike from Bilyamin Sarki. The win set the tone perfectly for the game against Simoiben Football Academy on Friday at the same venue, which is the FIFA Goal Project Package B at the national stadium Abuja.
Simoiben held their own for around 20 minutes before finally caving in with Norwich City forward Kenny Coker opening scoring. The Nigeria U20 team were reduced to ten men when Samson Lawal was sent off for a nasty tackle. The red card it appears galvanized the team.
Sarki doubled their lead three minutes later and five minutes later got his brace. Captain of the team Ibrahim Yahaya got in on the mix with a curler from the edge of the box of visitors to make it 4-0.
The ten man team didn’t settle for that scoreline and went heavily in search of a fifth which they got courtesy of Jude Sunday. Shettima Umar for the sixth goal before Simoiben pulled one back to end the game 6-1 in favor of the AFCON bound team.
It was the turn of NNL side EFCC FC to face the heat and they provided what still remains the major stern test the Flying Eagles have faced since resuming for the second phase of their camping ahead of the February tournament.
Masoud Danjuma drew first blood when he put the visitors ahead. The Nigerian team were not rattled and replied through their captain Ibrahim Yahaya. Sarki ensured their unbeaten record in test games stood when he scored what ended as the match winner for his team.
