What we learned: Five key takeaways from Flying Eagles' goalless draw against Atlas Cubs

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in their second Group B fixture of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday evening, putting their hopes of progressing to the quarterfinals on hold.

After securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Tunisia in their opening match, the Flying Eagles were unable to find a breakthrough against the North Africans at the 30 June stadium.

The result leaves Nigeria second in the group with four points, level with leaders Morocco, who top the standings on goal difference.

Nigeria must now get a result in their final group game against Kenya to book a spot in the knockout stage.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the clash.

Zubairu makes two changes

Head coach Aliyu Zubairu made two changes to the side that defeated Tunisia.

Precious Benjamin was brought in to replace Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi, who struggled in the last outing, while Israel Isaac Ayuma replaced Caleb Ikpoma Ochedikwu in midfield in a tactical reshuffle.

Referee makes right call to deny Oliseh's penalty claims

With around 20 minutes left on the clock, Divine Oliseh went down inside the Moroccan box following a swift Nigerian counterattack.

After skillfully navigating his way past a defender, Oliseh appeared to be clipped by a slight challenge, prompting appeals for a penalty from the Flying Eagles.

However, the referee waved away the protests, opting not to award a spot-kick.

Morocco struggle to create chances

The North Africans found it difficult to break down the resilient Flying Eagles throughout the match.

Morocco failed to register a single shot on target, leaving Nigerian goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt largely untested.

Credit goes to the Flying Eagles' disciplined defense and pressing, which consistently disrupted Morocco’s attacking rhythm and nullified their offensive threats.

Flying Eagles lack creativity

Although the Flying Eagles managed to test the Moroccan goalkeeper with three attempts, they struggled to generate clear-cut chances from open play.

A noticeable lack of creativity in midfield saw the team depend heavily on counterattacks and wide deliveries to threaten the opposition, rather than building through structured play.

Yanis Benchaouch Marty shows promise

Young goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch Marty delivered an impressive performance to help Morocco secure a valuable point.

In a game that lacked attacking flair, Marty stepped up when it mattered most, making three crucial saves to keep the Flying Eagles at bay.

His composed display and sharp reflexes made him Morocco's standout performer, playing a key role in ensuring Nigeria failed to find the back of the net.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: CAF

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