Nigeria’s Flying Eagles asserted their dominance over Cote d’Ivoire’s Young Elephants with a commanding 2-0 victory in an international friendly at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday.

From the first whistle, the seven-time African champions controlled the game, pressing their hosts and creating multiple scoring chances. Despite their dominance, the Young Elephants held firm in the first half, managing to keep the scoreline level at the break.

The breakthrough finally came in the 63rd minute when team captain Daniel Bameyi coolly converted a penalty after Divine Oliseh was brought down inside the box. The Flying Eagles continued to push forward, and with 10 minutes left, Oliseh doubled Nigeria’s advantage with a well-taken goal, sealing a deserved victory for Ladan Bosso’s boys.

Both sides will clash again on Friday at the same venue, as they continue preparations for the upcoming Africa U20 Cup of Nations, set to take place from April 26 to May 18.

Tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire will compete in Group A alongside DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a yet-to-be-confirmed Central African representative. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles face a challenging Group B, where they will take on Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco in what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament.