Morocco’s U-20 team forced Nigeria’s Flying Eagles to a 2-2 draw in a friendly game at the National Sports Centre in Rabat on Wednesday.
The Flying Eagles led twice through Alhassan Ibrahim in the second half, before skipper, Arjoune Omar, drew the home team level in stoppage time.
Coach Manu Garba’s team dominated the first half even after the hosts settled quicker, controlled the play and called goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu to duty, making him to pull a save off a free kick in just four minutes into the game.
Ifeanyi Matthew then had several chances to put Nigeria in front but his shots either were too weak or missed target within the first 18 minutes. Taiwo Awoniyi rounded up the Moroccan goalkeeper in the 14th minute but somehow the opposing defence cleared to safety.
Five minutes after the break, Abdullahi Alfa had a chance to give Nigeria the lead but his shot was wide off target despite being all alone with goalkeeper Majid Aymane.
Alhassan Ibrahim finally broke the deadlock after 64 minutes with a gentle tap in from close range, but almost immediately Morocco drew level after skipper Wilfred Ndidi put a low cross into his own net.
Goalkeeper Nwabulu made a big save for Nigeria in the 74th minute and moments later Ibrahim and Matthew came close to regaining the Eagles lead.
He finally scored his brace in the 81 minute, before skipper Omar salvaged a result for the Junior Lion Atlas in stoppage time with a close header.