Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were forced to dig deep to salvage a point in their WAFU Zone B U20 Championship opener, coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against hosts Ghana in Accra.
The defending champions, who defeated the Black Satellites in last year’s final, found themselves on the back foot for much of the contest at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence.
After a strong start by Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side, Ghana gradually seized the initiative, and their pressure told midway through the first half when striker Aziz Musibau fired past Nigeria’s goalkeeper to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Nigeria’s defence, marshalled by captain Daniel Bameyi, had earlier been called into action when he cleared off the line to deny Ghana an early breakthrough.
The goal lifted the Black Satellites, who looked determined to avenge last year’s defeat, as the home crowd pushed them forward in waves.
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Despite the setback, Nigeria stayed composed in the second half and began to assert themselves.
Divine Oliseh provided renewed spark in midfield, and it was from his persistence that Nigeria earned a vital corner with just seven minutes to go.
The Flying Eagles. Photo Credit: X
From the resulting delivery, centre-back Abdullahi Muhammed rose highest to meet the ball with a powerful header that beat the Ghanaian goalkeeper and levelled the score.
The goal quieted the home fans and briefly lifted Nigeria’s momentum, but the Flying Eagles failed to mount any meaningful push for a winner.
Flying Eagles head coach Zubairu celebrates with his players. Photo Credit: X
Both teams had late chances, but a lack of clinical edge meant they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in Group A, which also includes Benin Republic.
While the point offers Nigeria a platform to build upon, questions remain over the team’s creativity and tactical balance.
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As with their performance at the U20 AFCON earlier this year, the Flying Eagles were often overly reliant on physicality, struggling to stitch together meaningful attacking combinations.
Coach Zubairu will need to address these concerns quickly ahead of the crucial clash against Benin Republic, with semi-final qualification at stake.
