Super Eagles B lose to Costa Rica in friendly
Nigeria’s second-string team lost to Qatar-bound Costa Rica by two unreplied goals in their friendly match in San Jose. The Super Eagles B-team were comfortably defeated by their American counterparts.
With most of the regulars still engaged at club level, 18 home-based players were deployed to San Jose for the friendly against Costa Rica. Former Kano Pillars coach Salisu Yusuf was asked to take charge of the team for the encounter.
The home side boasted of veteran attacker Bryan Ruiz and ex-Arsenal forward Joel Campbell in their attack and wasted no time in going in front after only seven minutes. A set piece from the Costa Ricans found defender Oscar Duarte free in the box, and he applied a fitting finish to put his country in front.
The Super Eagles grew into the game but struggled to sustain a high level of performance against their opponents. The Costa Ricans managed the game well before adding a second in the second half.
Substitute defender Kendall Waston made it 2-0 to Costa Rica in the 73rd minute as he headed home following another set-piece delivery into the box. He had been introduced off the bench to replace Duarte in the second half. The home side managed the game well and ran out 2-0 winners.
The Super Eagles B team will return to their various clubs in Nigeria following their game against Costa Rica. The Super Eagles’ foreign stars and their manager Jose Peseiro will prosecute the friendly against Portugal before the World Cup.
