Nigeria and Saudi Arabia U-20 squads will battle in Vienna, Austria on Sunday as both teams continue to perfect their preparations for this year’s U-20 World Cup in Poland.
Both teams were scheduled to clash in a friendly in Jeddah earlier in the year to prepare seven-time African champions Nigeria for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations finals in Niger Republic in February but was called off.
With both teams having qualified for the World Cup, Sunday’s encounter has even higher relevance, only weeks before the World Cup opens in Poland.
The match will take place at the Sportschule Lindabrunn in Vienna, capital of Austria, according to Team Administrator, Aliyu Lawal.
While the Flying Eagles will confront Qatar, USA and Ukraine in Group D at the World Cup, Saudi Arabia will battle with Panama, Mali and France in Group E.
In Saudi Arabia, Nigeria will be looking to have an idea of how Qatar set up and do the business on the field, while in playing Nigeria, the Saudis hope to gain knowledge of what to expect from Mali in Poland.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Ayegbeni paid a visit to the U-20 team to motivate the players ahead of their trip to Poland.
The former Everton and Portsmouth striker was also happy to reunite with his former teammate Wilson Oruma who is the welfare officer of the team.
“I have played in the youth sides for Nigeria and I know what it means to these young lads (the Flying Eagles) to represent their country, “ the former striker said.
