Nigeria’s Under-17 team’ Golden Eaglets have secured a ticket to the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Chile after a flattering 3-1 win against Zambia in their final Group A match at the on-going African Championship in Niger.
The Golden Eaglets played their hearts out against the Junior Chipolopolo and were rewarded with three sublime goals including a brace by Victor Osimhen with other goals of the match by Kelechi Nwakali and Zamia’s Patson Daka. With the result, Nigeria top Group A with seven points ahead of Guinea who secured the other ticket from the group despite losing 2-1 to Niger
Golden Eaglets, actually dominated the first ten minutes and nearly went in front but Kelechi Nwakali’s free kick almost on the edge of the box after an infringement on Victor Osimhen, narrowly missed target.
Minutes later, Suleiman Abdullahi headed the ball away from on-rushing goalkeeper Daniel Sikanyika but his tap-in narrowly missed the target again.
At the other end, Zambia’s Captain Patson Daka shot was punched into corner by goalkeeper Akpan Udoh who had virtually been on holiday as the game reached the half hour mark.
In the 35th, the long awaited curtain raiser finally came and what a beauty it was; Nwakali floated a diagonal pass to the right flank and Ebere Osinachi launched the ball on the path of Osimhen who latched a
volley beyond Sikanyika. Osimhen could have added the second goal in the 40th minute but he messed up with the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.
But the Eaglets were undone and almost at the stroke of added time of the first half when Nwakali scored what could be the goal of the tournament as he rifled a lively shot on the edge of the box off a cross from Osimhen.
Osimhen continued where he left off in the second half as he lobbied the ball over Sikanyika straight into the net after running the ring round his Zambian shadow in the 49th minute.
But against run of play, Zamia pulled back a goal back in the 63rd minute when Daka intercepted a miscued by defender Halilu Lukman and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Udoh. Both sides however failed to add failed to another goal as the match dragged to a conclusive end.
GOLDEN EAGLETS vs. ZAMBIA
A.Udoh – A. Saddam; D. Bamidele(C. Kanu 63rd ); L.Halilu; A.Usman-
K.Nwakali ( O. Okonkwo 88th); A.Ukoh( K. Micheal 60th );S.Abdullahi;
S. Chukwueze- E. Osinachi; V.Osimhen
