Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, claimed a 2–1 victory over Egypt’s Young Pharaohs on Tuesday in a friendly encounter at the Cairo International Stadium, part of their build-up to the 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
Kparobo Arierhi, fresh from his heroics at the WAFU B U20 Championship, where he scored three times, including a brace in the final, opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a neat assist from Bidemi Amole. Egypt equalised through Ahmed Kaabaka in the 65th minute, but Nigeria had the final say.
In the 83rd minute, a foul on Divine Oliseh earned the Flying Eagles a penalty, which was confidently converted by Precious Benjamin to seal the win just seven minutes before full-time.
This morale boosting victory came less than 48 hours after the Nigerian squad landed in Cairo, setting a positive tone ahead of their Group B fixtures against Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya.
Egypt, hosts of the tournament and seeded in Group A, will face South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Tanzania in the group stage.
Editorial
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The Flying Eagles’ hard fought victory over Egypt is more than just a friendly win it’s a statement of intent. With the Africa U20 Cup of Nations on the horizon, this performance signals that Nigeria’s young talents are not just showing up they’re ready to compete.
The resilience and tactical discipline displayed especially the composed finish from the penalty spot by Precious Benjamin demonstrate a maturity often lacking at this level. Kparobo Arierhi’s early strike was a reminder that momentum from regional success can translate to continental dominance.
These are the kinds of matches where character is tested, and the Flying Eagles passed with flying colours. Less than 48 hours on foreign soil, against a quality side on home turf, and still they delivered. That says a lot about the preparation, mentality, and ambition in the camp.
As the tournament kicks off, Nigeria must take this confidence into Group B, where tougher challenges await. Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya will offer varying styles of play, but the Flying Eagles have shown they can adapt and overcome. The job is far from done but this win proves the fire is burning.
Did You Know?
- Nigeria has won the Africa U20 Cup of Nations a record seven times, most recently in 2015.
- Kparobo Arierhi was one of the breakout stars of the 2023 WAFU B U20 Championship in Lomé.
- The Cairo International Stadium, where the match took place, is the largest stadium in Egypt with a capacity of 75,000.
- The Flying Eagles’ match against Tunisia will be their tournament opener, a rematch of their 2013 U20 AFCON semi-final which Nigeria won 4–2.
- The Africa U20 Cup of Nations serves as a qualifier for the FIFA U20 World Cup, with the top four teams earning tickets.
