15th June, 2019
Nigeria’s Under-16 boys on Friday lost their second match of the 2019 International Dream Cup tournament to host nation Japan 1-4 at the Yurtec Stadium in Sendai, capital of Miyagi Prefecture.
Following their 3-1 win over Mexico’s Under-16 on Wednesday, the future Eagles were confident of a result against the Japanese.
Instead, they got a lesson in marksmanship and staying power from their Japanese counterparts.
Shinnosuke Katsushima, who would eventually annex the match ball with a hat-trick, opened the floodgates in the 16th minute.
But Adeyeye Damilola equalised for Nigeria 10 minutes later.
Katsushima got his second goal four minutes after the restart, and then made it three for himself and Japan in the 52nd minute.
Suwama Kosei made it 4-1 with seven minutes to go.
Eagles will take on the Under-16 team of Romania on Sunday at the last venue, in their last game of the tournament.
The Nigerian Team;
Okoronkwo Anthony – Agho Kelvin, Ibrahim Usman, Egbu Chukwuemeka, lsalaudeen Ismail – Sesugh Japhet, Damilola Adeyeye, Oluwatobi Adeleke (C) – Egesionu Sopuruchukwu, Opeyemi Qudus,
Evbuomwan Gift