Substitute Divine Oliseh stole the show, providing an assist and scoring the second goal as Nigeria U20 beat Cote D’Ivoire 2-0 in a preparatory game at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny.
Captain Daniel Bameyi made good from the spot three minutes after the hour mark, converting from six yards after an infringement on darting forward Divine Oliseh.
Zubairu Auditioning Old Players With Cote D’Ivoire Friendly
Speaking on the importance of the game, coach Aliyu Zubairu declared that the game is for checking the level of old players.
“We came here for the friendly match to know the level at which some of the old players that went to WAFU-B are and the new ones that want to join us. If any of those that went to WAFU-B can’t meet the standard we are looking for, he will be replaced, and so are the new ones if you can’t fit in. We keep setting until we get a balanced team for the U20.”
Both teams will square up to each other again at the same venue on Friday, as they test strength ahead of this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations set for 26th April – 18th May.
The former ElKanemi Warriors coach Zubairu auditioning players to balance the squad and introduce players of Nigerian descent.
“We are expecting a lot of players, particularly those who have taken their careers abroad, that are eligible. We are expecting a reasonable number of them that will join us as soon as we go back to Nigeria.”
Flying Eagles are in Group B alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco in a potentially flammable AFCON U20 group.
Furthermore, AFCON U20 hosts Cote d’Ivoire are in group A alongside DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and the second flag-bearers of central Africa.