Flying Eagles shocked by Mali

[Folami David]

Mali opened their Group B account of the Orange CAF U-20 African Championship with an efficient 1-0 win over defending champions Nigeria at Ahmed Zabana stadium in Oran. Looking keener not to contest with the Nigerians but choosing to sit back and soak up the pressure, the Eaglets' strategy paid off and helped them claim all three points against a wasteful Flying Eagles side.
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Nigeria, with several of the players who won the 2011 championship in South Africa still in action, dominated ball possession and created more chances but Mali were efficient and defended in numbers. It was against the run of play in the 13th minute that striker Adama Niane scored a poacher's goal from inside the Nigeria penalty box to give the Eaglets the lead. Mali took a corner and when the headed clearance fell kindly to Niane he cracked a ferocious left footer that beat all attempts by Nigerian defenders and goalkeeper to stop it crossing the goal line.
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Stung by the goal the Flying Eagles of Nigeria peppered Malian goal with striker Olarenwaju Kayode keeping the defenders busy. On the right flank Aminu Umar was getting the better of left-back Modibo Konte and sending in crosses. Despite all the pressure the backline anchored by some solid saves from goalkeeper and captain, Ali Yirango kept out the marauding Nigerians.
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Kayode had the ball in the back of the net from a header after 27th minutes by he had scored from an off-side position and Mali's lead remained intact.
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Nigeria continued to control the game and camp in Malian half and just before half time Ousmane Keita cleared from his goal line as Kayode thought he his looping shot had found the equalizer.
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The second half was pretty much the same story with Nigeria crafting chance after but failing to find the back of the net. The best of the chance fell to Edafe Egbedi but he missed an open goal with a header that went wide. With almost all Nigerians in Malian half, the former nearly paid the price from a break by Adama Traore. Only a timely tackle from a chasing Chizoba Amaefule prevented a shot on goal.
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Nigeria continued to fluff chances and on 68 minutes Kayode should have scored when he latched on to a cross from influential substitute Salisu Gero but Kayode attempted a flick which didn't come to anything allowing Yirango to make an easy save.
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Samba Diallo stung Chukwunenye Okani's palms with a shot after a good run from FamoussaKone during one rare moment when Mali attacked.
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Ten minutesfrom the end the Flying Eagles were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box but captain Abduljeleel Ajagun blazed yet another effort over the cross bar.
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On 85th minute Gero chested down a through ball and with only the keeper to beat he shot wide from inside the box and Mali survived another nervous moment and hung on for a precious win.

[Shola Sholaz]

I watched the game and they had no game pattern. It was just police football. The game went in Mali's favour cos they defended well

[Folami David]

Dint know someone else saw that too. That is just the basic truth. The team didn't meet up to expectation