Nigeria: Portugal Forces Flying Eagles to Barren Draw

14 July 2011

The National U-20 team, Flying Eagles, was forced to a 0-0 draw by their Portuguese counterparts in an international friendly in Lisbon last night.

Yesterday’s game at the fabled Estadio Nacional in the Portuguese capital was arranged at the instance of the Nigeria Football Federation, as part of the preparatory programme for the reigning African champions ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup starting in Colombia later this month.

A dogged approach by Sam John Obuh’s boys nearly paid off in the early stages, but the Portuguese defence was alert to the several questions posed. At the other end, the Nigerian defence-line gave no inches, keeping the Portuguese forwards at bay.

Midway through the second period, the Portuguese referee awarded the host team a questionable penalty, which came with a red card for Nigeria’s left back, Felix Udoh. But six-footer goalkeeper Gideon Gambo showed great awareness and agility to save the penalty kick.

The Flying Eagles were scheduled to return to their training camp in Faro this morning before flying out of Portugal to Amsterdam on Friday. From Amsterdam, the team will travel aboard a KLM Airline flight to Panama – an 11-hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean. In Panama, a Four-Nation tournament awaits, with the first game against host Panama on Monday, and matches against Portugal and Mexico to come on Wednesday and Friday next week respectively.

Nigeria’s hopefuls will fly direct to Armenia, venue of their first two matches of Group D, on July 24. They play their first FIFA U-20 World Cup match against Guatemala on July 31.

AllAfrica – All the Time