Flying Eagles Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke fielded eight members of the Chile 2015 U-17 World Cup winners as his boys ran away 4-1 winners over Sia-One Academy in a friendly match at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja on Saturday.
Tournament goleador, Victor Osimhen opened the floodgate of goals in an exciting match that was watched by cheering spectators, among them NFF 2ndVice President/LMC chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF assistant technical directors Siji Lagunju and Rafiu Yusuf.
A well –worked move which started from the right wing found team captain Kelechi Nwakali who sent a through ball to an unmarked Victor Osimhen to slot home beautifully from close range in the 10th minute. That goal brought out the best from the Sia-One boys as they began to dictate the pace in the middle of the park forcing the Flying Eagles to retreat.
A reckless tackle by the Sia-One defence -line resulted in a penalty that was converted by Kelechi Nwakali in the 45th minute to make it 2-0 in favour of the Nigeria U-20 at the end of the first half.
The second half saw the introduction of six new players by coach Amuneke who was using the match to prepare his team ahead of next month’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi in Bujumbura.
Winger Orji Okonkwo was a constant threat from the wing for the Flying Eagles and in one of his dazzling runs down the flanks, he let loose a shot that was deflected into the net by a Sia-One defender for the third goal of the match. Sia-One academy however pulled one back in the 74th minute through striker Victor Sunday who had a really good game in attack alongside enterprising midfielder, Gary Aondofa.
The fourth goal was also an own goal but this time it took the brilliance of Victor Osimhen to force a sliding tackle that saw the ball sail into the net to make it a convincing 4-1 victory for the Flying Eagles.
Saturday’s friendly was the first of a series of friendly games lined up by Coach Amuneke to prepare his team ahead of the two –legged fixture with the Burundians.
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