Nasarawa United’s midfielder, Ikenna Offor, was on target for the Solid Miners in the team’s 1-1 draw against Nigeria’s U-20 youth team, the Flying Eagles as both sides prepare for the tasks ahead.
The energetic player netted from the spot twenty-four minutes into the restart with menacing winger, Oche Josiah, taking credit for the assist after he was hacked down inside the box by the opponents’ defender at the FIFA Goal Project Football Field, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Friday afternoon.
With United almost ending the Flying Eagles’ unbeaten record in as many Pre-Season matches, Lekan Adam ensured both sides share the spoils with a sublime finish from close range after Goalkeeper, Ameh Godwin, spilled Yahaya Ibrahim’s thunderbolt toward his path four minutes from stoppage time.
1-1 was the full-time scoreline in a game that saw both sides sizing each other up in an entertaining manner.
It’s Nasarawa United’s second Pre-Season draw in three days after holding border neighbours, Lobi Stars FC to a goalless stalemate at the Aper Aku Stadium, in Makurdi, Benue State.
The Solid Miners are preparing for the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League Season while the WAFU Zone ‘B’ winning Flying Eagles are jostling for the AFCON U-20 Tournament slated for February 18th, 2023, in Egypt, and a ticket in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup Tournament.
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING:
Bala Nikyu(T/A, NAS): “Well, the match is good for both teams because we are preparing for the elite domestic league while they are preparing for a major tournament.
“In fact, the match is more important to them because they will represent the country at an international competition.
“For now, whether you win or lose isn’t the most important thing, but being able to identify the areas of weaknesses and subsequent corrections.
“In all fairness, our opponents today are a very good side.
“I do hope they will exhibit the same fighting spirit when they start participating at the international competition.
“Concerning the new league season, we at Nasarawa United are ready, irrespective of any date agreed upon to kickstart the new league season.”
Oladuni Oyekale (U-20 P/T): “It’s a great game between these two teams.
“The team(Flying Eagles) are undergoing some processes.
“All this while, we were playing against Academy sides. We just started playing against top-league sides, and you should know that Clubs are different.
“Yeah, we were able to overcome Wikki Tourists in our last game before today’s encounter.
“We played a 1-1 draw with Nasarawa United which is a good thing for us.
“They are a very big team, and have good and experienced players.
“However, what we really enjoyed in the game was the fighting spirit our boys showed to equalize after conceding from the spot.”
