AFCON 2025
Nigeria’s Under-20 men’s football team, the Flying Eagles, defeated the Young Pharaohs of Egypt in an international friendly ahead of the Youth Africa Cup of Nations.
The seven-time champions played the match at the Al-Salam stadium in Cairo on Tuesday and secured a morale-boosting win ahead of the tournament.
Top striker Kparobo Arierh scored after 10 minutes to put the Flying Eagles ahead in the match. Arierhi latched on to Bidemi Amole’s pass to put the ball into the bottom corner.
Kparobo Arierhi continued his form in front of the goal after bagging three goals in the WAFU-B qualifying tournament. Arierhi scored in the final as Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 to win the tournament in November.
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The Egyptians got back into the game in the second half as Ahmed Kaabaka equalized with a fine finish.
However, Precious Benjamin put Nigeria back into the lead from the penalty spot late in the game after an Egyptian defender fouled Divine Oliseh in the box.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s boys ended the match 2-1 and put themselves in good stead for the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday.
The Flying Eagles are grouped alongside Morocco, Tunisia, and Kenya as they begin the quest to win their record eighth title.
Nigeria will take on Tunisia on Thursday next week in its first match and then Morocco and Kenya at three-day intervals, respectively.
