Nigeria's Flying Eagles on Saturday at the Ahmed
Zabana Stadium in Oran cruised to a 3-1 win against
debutants, DR Congo at the ongoing Africa Youth
Championship in Algeria.
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The victory guaranteed the title holders an automatic
spot to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Turkey in June
and July as well as a semifinal passage at the
biennial football fiesta.
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The Flying Eagles finished the group campaign
second on six points same as leaders, Mali who
edged the Nigerians on head-to-head rule. Mali
pipped their Nigerian counterparts 1-0 in the group's
opening game.
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The Under-20 Eagles will now face the Junior
Pharaohs of Egypt in the semifinals in Ain
Temouchent on Tuesday.
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The encounter at the Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran
was an improvement to the side's two previous
matches against West African foes, Mali and Gabon.
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Unlike the previous games in which John Obuh's
team were guilty of wasting several opportunities at
goal, they got their scoring acts right from the blast
of the whistle against DR Congo.
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Aware anything short of an outright win will signal
immediate elimination from the AYC, they took the
bold step in searching of an early goal and their
search did not take long before they were rewarded
with a penalty and captain Abduljeleel Ajagun
stepped forward to net the goal in the 37th minute.
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The side may have profited from the suspension of
striker, Olarenwaju Kayode as Aminu Umar who
stepped in as his replacement became an instant
terror-in-chief of the DR Congo's defence as his
workaholic effort paid off for the second goal barely a
minute after Ajagun grabbed the opener.
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The Wikki Tourists' man made it a double after
muscling and outpacing his challengers masterfully
flipped the ball over onrushing DR Congo goalkeeper,
Bakala in the 46th minute.
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Undone with his brace, Umar, who combined
effectively with Ajagun, Ejike and Chidi Osuchukwu,
continued probing at his opponents vital area but it
was the opponents' counter-attack that saw them
pull one goal back through Pembele. His canon of a
shot was deflected by Amaefule leaving Jonah Usman
in goal for Nigeria with no chance.
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Efforts to increase the goal tally by the trio, Umar,
Ejike and Ajagun were thwarted by the DR Congo's
backline.
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Umar is a sure starter against Egypt in Tuesday's
semifinal clash given his five-star performance
against DR Congo.
They play Egypt tomorrow, let's see what they will bring to the table for this country. I wish they win though cos i'm a Nigerian