Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were unable to repeat their heroics from the first leg as they fell 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire’s Young Elephants in the second friendly match on Friday at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan.
Aliyu Zubairu’s boys had claimed an impressive 2-0 victory in the first encounter on Wednesday, but the hosts came back stronger, dictating the tempo and keeping Nigeria at bay for most of the game. The Flying Eagles, who looked composed and clinical in the first match, struggled to find their rhythm this time around.
The Young Elephants took the lead in the 17th minute through Tape Yaya Kader, who found the back of the net from open play after a well-worked attack. Nigeria attempted to respond but found chances hard to come by, with Côte d’Ivoire’s defense standing firm.
Any hopes of a comeback were dashed just eight minutes into the second half when the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Isaac Cisse to convert from 12 yards and double the home side’s advantage.
Unlike the first leg, where Daniel Bameyi and Divine Oliseh were on target for Nigeria, the Flying Eagles failed to create clear-cut opportunities, ultimately leaving Abidjan with a win and a loss from the two-match series.
Despite the defeat, the friendlies provided a valuable test for the Flying Eagles as they continue preparations for the 2025 U-20 African Cup of Nation schedule to run from April 26 – 18 May in Côte d’Ivoire.
Coach Zubairu will be looking to address the lapses in their performance and ensure the team builds on the positives from both encounters.
