The Flying Eagles, the national Under-20 male football team, on Saturday in Abuja defeated Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club side Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-0 in a friendly match.

The match played at the FIFA Goal Project at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium saw the Flying Eagles performing better.

On Friday, the national side drew 1-1 in their friendly match against NPFL side Nasarawa United.

They tightened up at the rear, making Lobi Stars fight hard and unsuccessfully to break their defence despite laying siege on many occasions in their half.

Flying Eagles forward Halliru Sarki broke the deadlock by scoring with a free-kick in the 76th minute.

Twelve minutes later, forward Olusegun Otusanya doubled his side’s lead after a pass from Dominion Ohaka.

Speaking after the match, the Flying Eagles’ head coach, Ladan Bosso, said their performance was satisfactory even though the match was part of their preparation.

“We also won all our matches against the football academies. So, it has been a very good performance displayed by the team.

“The tactical strength was there, and by the time the players will be returning to camp early in January, we would have been set,” he said.

Bosso added that before the team resumes camping, he and his colleagues would have streamlined and prepared all necessary.

He, however, said their last three matches were determining factors in recalling the players to camp.

“The performances of the last three matches will serve as determinants regarding players to have in the camp when we come back by January.

“We will not have back this crowd (of 45 players) to blend in January,” the coach said.

The team is preparing for the 2023 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt from February 19 to March 11.

Nigeria qualified for the competition after winning the regional WAFU U-Under-20 Tournament in Niger Republic.

Ghana are the current continental champion, while the Flying Eagles are the event’s most successful team, having won it seven times.

(NAN)