The Flying Eagles on Tuesday
defeated German club side Hoffenheim U23 5-2 in a friendly match in continuation
of it preparations towards the U20 World Cup in New Zealand. The team currently
camping in Germany
played the first of three friendly matches that will be played over the next
week.
The hero of the tune up match was
Taiwo Awoniyi who bagged a second half hat-trick to lead Manu Garba’s side to a
5-2 win. Godwin Ezeh and Godwin Saviour scored the other goals for the Flying
Eagles.
Taiwo Awoniyi has been in a rich
vein of scoring form in the last few months, his brace for the U23 team against
Zambia in Lusaka
qualified Nigeria
for the football event of the All Africa Games holding in Congo Brazzaville
later this year.
The Flying Eagles will next play Freiburg
youth side on May 15 as they continue to fine tune preparations towards the
show piece event for youth under 20 years in New Zealand.
Manu Garba is expected to release
his final 21 man list later this month before the team departs for New Zealand on
the 23rd of May.
The former U17 head coach opted to
go with his fringe players which he used to start the match against Hoffenheim
U23. When the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi entered the fray in the second half the
difference told as the African champions ran out comfortable winners at the end
of the day.
The Flying Eagles are in the same
group as tournament favourites Brazil,
as well as Hungary
and Korea DPR.
They will play their first group
match against Brazil on June
1st in the New Zealand city
of New Plymouth.
The team will arrive in the country
down under fresh from it triumph at the African Youth Championship where they
defeated Senegal
in the finals.
Photo Credit: completesportsnigeria
