By Albert Akota
Super Eagles team ‘B’ defeated NYSC FC 5-2 yesterday in Abuja ahead of friendlies against AFCON-bound Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan.
The NYSC side took the lead after only two minutes when Nwowu Ikenna’s sleek dribble in the Eagles vital area was finished off by Omefe Ifeanyi from close range.
The goal jolted the national team to reality and four minutes later hotshot Mfom Udoh equalised after combining with Gambo Mohammed.
But the NYSC team will not let go, as they again took the lead through Eugene Utom in the sixth minute after another defensive mix-up that forced Amokachi to pull out experienced defender Azubuike Egwuekwe, who was apparently the culprit of the gaps noticed in the backline.
The Eagles seemed to wake up after that change with Nelson Ogbonna curtailing the excesses of the NYSC strikers, while teen sensation Kingsley Sokari alias ‘Bobby’ equalised in the 18th minute with a neatly struck goal.
Sokari added his second of the day in the 21st minute after a neat interchange of passes with inform Heartland winger Stanley Dimgba.
Two minutes to the end of the first half, Udoh got also his second of the day, after Gambo had done the hard part of the job. The first half thus ended 4-2.
In the second half, Amokachi introduced Bright Esieme, Christian Obiozor, Emem Eduok, Gbolahan Salami and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, who took over from Daniel Akpeyi.
They pressed for more goals but were a bit wasteful in front of goal. But Eduok will not allow the half to be dry as one his fine runs which caused trouble for the NYSC side was finally converted by Christian Osas Ighodalo, for the fifth and last goal of the match. This was in the 85th minute.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
