By: Gracious Akujobi Players and Officials of the Nigeria National U-13 Team were in frenzy after watching the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the flames of Malawi 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup qualifying game played at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Saturday evening.
The U-13 boys who all watched the match together on a giant screen placed in the dining hall of their Love and Peace hotel camp in Akure, were full of praises for the Super Eagles players most of whom they idolized, for grinding out a comfortable win over the boastful Malawians.
Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike shot Nigeria ahead in first half stoppage time, when he got to the end of a delightful long ball from Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi to coolly chip past Malawi goalkeeper Charles Swini for Nigeria’s first goal.
Nigeria increased their advantage in the 51st minute when Victor Moses fired home from the penalty spot after goal-bound Oduamadi was adjudged to have been brought down inside the box.
“Mikel played a fast and secured game making it difficult for opponents to dispossess him, he is my idol.” National U-13 Team captain Gold Peter enthused when asked to analyze Mikel’s game-play against Malawi.
“Yerima John, a midfielder for the U-13 team said his man of the match was Ogenyi Onazi because he minimized torches on the ball and was the engine room of the Eagles, that’s whom I wish to be in the future.” The Kaduna born player added.
The Super Eagles victory ensured they advanced to the final qualifying rounds for the 2014 World Cup.
The Nigeria National U-13 Team had double course to celebrate on the night after also defeating a Kaduna State selected U-13 boys 5 – 1 in a test match played earlier on Saturday morning, at the Akure township stadium
