2013 AYC: Flying Eagles lose out

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles failed to reach the final of the 2013 African Youth Championship after they lost 0-2 to Egypt on Tuesday in Ain Temouchent.
Mahmoud Kahraba scored twice in the second half after a goalless first half to give the Young Pharaohs passage to Saturday’s final against Group A rivals, Ghana.
Mali will take on Nigeria in a Group B rematch on Friday by 5.30pm in Oran to determine the third-place team.
The Malians won the group game against their more illustrious counterparts 1-0 on the opening day of this tournament.
Nigeria would have wrapped up their ticket to the championship final in the first half, which they dominated but yet again they failed to take the several chances they created.
“We did not take our chances especially in the first half,” lamented Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh.
“Egypt were more determined and they went for it. They were also lucky.”
Egypt’s Coach, Rabiea Yassin, admitted Nigeria bossed the game in the first half, but he made some attacking changes in the second half and these paid off with two goals.
“Nigeria controlled the first half, but they did not have any clear chances,” Yassin said.
“We made changes and we took over the game in the second half.
“We did not have a typical centre-forward and so we had to attack from the sides using Kahraba and Ahmed Rafat.”
Flying Eagles kicked off very brightly and forced two corners within the first minute as they were the first to settle down.
After seven minutes, skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun had a clear chance to give Nigeria the lead after great work by Kayode but he delayed his shot from inside the box.
Chidi Osuchukwu fired a shot wide from inside the box in the 28th minute.
But against the run of play, Egypt beat an offside trap and came close to taking the lead in the 31st minute but resolute defending by Nigeria ensured parity.
Minutes later, Umar Aminu shot from outside box, but again it was too weak to trouble goalkeeper Mossad Awad.
Soon after, Osuchukwu went on a great solo run only for him to be blocked for a corner as the Flying Eagles continued to pressure Egypt.
In first half stoppage time, Mahmoud Trezeget had Egypt’s biggest chance blocked for a corner.
However, a minute after the restart, Egypt finally took the lead off a cross behind the defence and eight minutes from time, he doubled his team’s lead in similar fashion.
The Flying Eagles continued to create chances between these goals but like it has been all through this competition, they lacked the finish.
Kayode, Bright Ejike and Ovbokha Agboyi were the culprits.