Morocco and Nigeria Share the Spoils Again in U-20 Friendly Clash
Morocco and Nigeria played out a second consecutive draw on Friday as their U-20 sides continued preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The 1-1 result at the Bouskoura Sports Center followed a 2-2 draw between the teams earlier in the week on April 9.
The young Super Eagles struck first, taking the lead in the 22nd minute, but their advantage was short-lived. Morocco responded just seven minutes later through Hamza Khaba, whose equaliser ensured parity before half-time in an evenly contested encounter.
The remainder of the match saw both sides create chances but ultimately fail to find a decisive goal, underlining the competitive balance between the two squads as they fine-tune their strategies ahead of the continental qualifiers.
Both teams are currently in the final stages of preparation for the 2015 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Senegal. The tournament serves as a key platform for identifying emerging talent from across the continent and offers qualification berths for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Morocco now turn their attention to their upcoming qualifier against Togo. The first leg will take place in Lomé on 11 May, with the return fixture scheduled for 25 May on home soil. The Atlas Cubs will look to build on the positives from their back-to-back draws with Nigeria as they aim to secure a place in the final tournament.
The matches also offered both coaching staffs valuable insights into their squads’ depth and readiness. While defensive lapses were evident at times, both sides showed flashes of individual quality and tactical discipline, suggesting they could be strong contenders in the qualification rounds.
Nigeria, perennial powerhouses at youth level, will continue their preparations with the goal of adding another continental title to their impressive record. Meanwhile, Morocco, playing under the guidance of a new generation of coaches, are eager to make their mark on the continental stage.
As the countdown to Senegal 2015 continues, results like these indicate a competitive qualification phase ahead, with little separating the continent’s top youth teams.
