Super Eagles B team posted a decent performance, but it was not enough as hosts Costa Rica won 2-0 on their way to the World Cup in Qatar, Abbeylivenetwork.com reports.
This is the first time ever both Costa Rica and the Super Eagles will meet at senior level.
Goals in each half from Oscar Duarte and Kendall Waston, secured the win for Costa Rica.
Both goals were set up by former Arsenal forward Joel Campbell.
World Cup bound Costa Rica got off to a good start as they open scoring in the seventh minute through Oscar Duarte.
In the 12th minute, Qudus Akani drove the ball into the final third before making a pass to Ezekiel, who was later deemed offside.
Bankole was called into action once again as he saved a goal bound shot played by Zamora in the 16th minute.
Chidebere Nwobodo would go on to drive the ball into the opponents box but his move was thwarted by the opposing defender.
In the early stages of the second half both sides exchanged attacking moves, as they began to ask more volume of questions on the field, but non could find the back of the net.
In the 59th minute Coach Salisu Yusuf made four changes, bringing in Alex and Sunday Faleye for Enobong and Alo Samson respectively.
However, Qudus Akanni was substituted for Garba, while Chidebere Nwobodo came in for Samuel Kalu.
And in the 73rd minute Kendall Waston doubled their lead to help his team return to winning ways, after their last game which was also a friendly with South Korea in September ended 2-2.
The win extends Costa Rica’s winning streak against Nigeria to two, having won 1-0 in a friendly played in 2011.
The Eagles B team can only build on this performance as the core of the team continues to prepare for an U23 AFCON final playoff against Guinea in March.
