Obuh demands Flying Eagles fight back

John Obuh

Coach John Obuh has charged the Flying Eagles to show more fighting spirit in their next game at the Toulon International Tournament after they lost 2-0 to defending champions Mexico on Wednesday.

“We have to buckle up as individuals and as a team after this loss,” challenged Obuh.

“We should not allow this defeat to weigh us down, rather we should show a better character by our next game.”

On Sunday, the Nigeria U20s will battle Belgium, who Obuh and the team watched leading Brazil 1-0 by half time in the second game of Group B.

“Belgium play a very simple game and we have to be at our best to get a result against them,” he said.

Against Mexico, and with 2013 World Cup rivals South Korea and Portugal in the stands watching, the Flying Eagles were on the back foot very early on.

In the sixth minute, striker Bueno Ontiveros shot wide and two minutes later, Luna Martinez forced goalkeeper Okani to scramble his effort for a corner.

Okani produced a big save on 15 minutes after the Flying Eagles defence had been split open.

Mexico continued to attack their opponents and deserved their lead in the 27th minute, when a mistake by Samuel Mathias allowed Morales Zavala to lob beyond Okani.

Soon after Okani produced another save off the lively Luna Martinez, but in first half stoppage time the Flying Eagles would have drawn level after Olanrewaju Kayode delivered a low drive into the Mexico goal area but Edafe Egbedi’s shot was blocked by the giant goalkeeper Sanchez Alcaraz.

The second half belonged to the Flying Eagles.

Michael Olaitan’s shot was saved by FC Dallas shot stopper Alcaraz minutes after the restart.

In the 52nd minute, Kingsley Madu ventured upfront but his final effort crashed against the sidenetting.

Uche Agbo also fired at the Mexico goal but it was far off the mark, before the CONCACAF champions doubled their lead in the 72nd minute.

Abella Fanhul went past the Flying Eagles defence from the left and then fired a low shot past Okani.

It was largely against the run of play, but for all their domination in the second half, the Flying Eagles failed to really trouble the Mexico defence till the final whistle by the Colombian referee Sanchex Gonzalez.