Nigeria's home-based Super Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by Zanzibar in their second pre-2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) friendly match played on Thursday, despite taking a commanding first-half lead.
The Nigerian side appeared to be cruising to victory after establishing a 2-0 advantage before the break, with goals coming from Nasarawa United striker Anas Yusuf and defender Adedayo Olamilekan.
However, the hosts mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, scoring twice to ensure the match ended in a stalemate, denying the Home Eagles what would have been a morale-boosting win ahead of the continental championship.
This result follows the goalless draw between both teams in their first friendly encounter on Monday, suggesting the Zanzibari side has proven to be a worthy sparring partner for Nigeria's CHAN preparations.
With these preparation matches now concluded, the Home Eagles will shift their focus to their tournament opener against defending champions Senegal. The crucial Group D encounter is scheduled for next week Tuesday at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar.
The CHAN tournament, exclusively featuring players from domestic leagues across Africa, represents an important opportunity for Nigeria to showcase the quality of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on the continental stage.
Nigeria's coaching staff will likely use the lessons from these friendly matches to fine-tune their tactics and strategy before facing Senegal, who enter the tournament as favorites after winning the previous edition.
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