Costa Rica strike twice to send Super Eagles back to Nigeria empty-handed

The Central Americans were the better team in San Jose as they proved their quality over the three-time African champions

Goals in either half by Oscar Duarte and Kendall Waston handed Costa Rica a 2-0 triumph over Nigeria in an international friendly at the National Stadium, San Jose.

Led by coach Salisu Yusuf, the Super Eagles – without the team’s regular stars such as Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and the best of their foreign legions – knew they had a daunting task to cage a Los Ticos side that was heading to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Still, the team dominated by the home-based Nigerian stars put up a good fight against the Costa Ricans.

But the difference in quality, especially in attack, was made obvious as early as the seventh minute when the home side broke the deadlock courtesy of a well-worked goal.

Former Arsenal forward Joel Campbell showed quick thinking to set up the exciting Duarte, who then beat goalkeeper Kayode Bankole with a firm finish.

The Super Eagles B held firm until the halftime break and grew in confidence in the second half before the second goal took the winds off their sail.

Campbell was the provider one more time, the forward setting up Waston to double Costa Rica’s advantage in the 73rd minute and power the CONCACAF representative to their fourth win in their last five games.

Nigeria, though, fell to another defeat on the road after losing to Algeria in Oran in an international friendly last month.

The Super Eagles will return to action on November 17 when they engage another WorldCup-bound team and former European champions Portugal in Lisbon.

Nigeria did not qualify for the Mundial after falling to Ghana in the final qualifying playoff in March.