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, including NFF 2nd Vice 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 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 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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