Nigeria's Golden Eaglets has qualified for the second round of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The team which last Saturday defeated defending champions, Mexico by 6-1 in their first match at the competition, but struggled on Tuesday to earn a 3-3 draw with tournament debutants, Sweden beat Iraq 5-0 in Dubai in their last Group F match decided yesterday to top the group with 7 points .
Mexico also qualified from the Group as second place finisher in Group F. Eaglets who took control of the match from the first minute scored four goals in the first half before adding another goal in the second half to make it difficult for Iraq to have any hope of salvaging a point in the competition.
Nigeria who has not lost a group-stage game at U-17 World Cup since 1993 looked the much determined side and it took Chidiebere Nwakali only two minutes to hit the woodwork and seconds later, they were into the lead when Musa Yahaya was fouled in the area and Musa Mohammed converted from the spot.
Few minutes later, Mohammed sent a cross to Chidibere Nwakali who wasted no time in scoring the goal from close range. After this goal, the Iraqis managed a shot in the 13th minute followed by Captain Mohammed Salam's free-kick which was saved by Nigerian goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu.
Five minutes later, Kelechi Iheanacho laid a fine pass for Taiwo Awoniyi, but it broke loose and fell to the feet of Musa Yahaya, who made no mistake in increasing the tally to 3-0. Iraq's coach Muwafaq Adlool, knowing his side needed a win, made a change, bringing in Yasir Ammar for Mustafa Mohammed.
The substitution sparked a positive spell for his side, but the next goal came at the other end with the Nigerians in irresistible mood. Yahaya took advantage of a rather grand error by the Iraqi keeper Hayder Mohammed, and scored with ease from six yards box. The second half saw the Golden Eaglets dictating the pace of the game and on the stroke of full-time, they scored their fifth goal through substitute Chigozie Obasi.
Meanwhile, former Golden Eaglets Coach, Henry Nwosu has charged the technical crew of the Golden Eaglets to work on the defence of the team in order to achieve their target of winning the cadet championship for the fourth time.
Nwosu told our correspondent that although the team has talented strikers and midfielders who can create havoc against any of their opponents, but the team's defence is suspect and needs a lot of improvement before they dream of winning the tournament.
"I must have to commend the coaching crew of the Golden Eaglets for assembling good strikers such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Success Isaac, Chidiebere Nwakali and Akinjide Idowu who have lived up to expectations in the tournament.
"There first match against Mexico was an exciting one considering the number of goals they scored and their ability to withstand the initial pressure from the North Americans, but their second match revealed that the technical crew still need a lot of work to do before playing in the knockout stage.
"When you look at their second match against Sweden, you will discover that the defence put up a poor performance which made the Swedes score easily and it is important that Coach Garba Manu and his assistants should do something about the defence in this regard because the knockout stage will be a different ball game," he said.
Nwosu who is now the Head Coach of Gateway United FC of Abeokuta expressed confidence that the team has what it takes to lift the trophy and noted that this could only be possible if lapses discovered in the last game was corrected.
"I have no doubt in my mind that the Golden Eaglets is capable of lifting the trophy especially considering the caliber of talented players in the squad, but they should not allow the result of their first match deceive them into believing they are the best team in the championship or underrate any team. Rather, they should remain focused as that is the only way they can progress in the tournament," Nwosu concluded.
Source: Golden Eaglets fly over Iraq, book second round ticket (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/golden-eaglets-fly-over-iraq-book-second-round-ticket/)