Flying Eagles Sad; .After Poor Outing At 4-Nation Tourney

Players and officials of the Flying Eagles are feeling bad they failed to live up to expectation at the just concluded 4-Nation Invitational Tournament in Panama.

The championship was to be a preparatory ground ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which kicks off on 29 July in Colombia.

The Nigerian team played three matches at the invitational tourney. They lost two matches and drew one, conceding six goals and scoring one. They played goalless with the hosts, Panama in their first match, were beaten 0-2 in their second match against Portugal and yesterday in their last match they were thrashed 1-4 by Mexico.

Speaking early today on a Lagos-based radio, Brila FM, Flying Eagles star, Bright Ejike, who plies his trade with Sharks of Port Harcourt revealed the mood in the team’s camp, saying that “everybody was sad with the performance of the team, scoring only one goal in three matches. Coach Obuh himself was not happy at all.”

The Mexican U-20 team came from behind to spank nine-man Nigeria 4:1 at the four-nation pre-World Cup tournament in Panama City yesterday.

VVV Venlo striker Ahmed Musa gave the Flying Eagles the lead in the 22nd minute, but midfielder Diego De Buen equalised for the Mexicans in the 34th minute.

Forward Alan Pulido then gave Mexico the lead in the 41st minute to take a 2:1 lead into the break.

The North Americans doubled their advantage when Ulises Davila struck in the 58th minute, before Pulido added his second goal in last night’s encounter (early Saturday morning Nigerian time) to cap a fine day for Mexico.

Two Nigerians were sent off in the 66th and 79th minutes of the game.

Nigeria finished last regardless of the outcome of the final game of the competition between hosts Panama and Portugal.