Confed Cup: FIFA disqualifies Echejile’s goal
However, FIFA technical committee says the goal was in fact an own goal scored by one of tahiti’s amateur soccer player, Nicolas Valler.
FIFA released a statement on Tuesday clarifying the status of the first goal
The the world football ruling body, FIFA, has disqualified Uwa Echiejile as the first goal scorer of the match between Nigeria and Tahiti.
Echiejile was initially thought to have scored the first goal, which led to a 6-1 drubbing of the tiny Oceania country.
However, FIFA technical committee says the goal was in fact an own goal scored by one of tahiti’s amateur soccer player, Nicolas Valler.
FIFA released a statement on Tuesday clarifying the status of the first goal.
The statement reads: "Following further studies of the video of the match between Tahiti and Nigeria on June 17 in Belo Horizonte, FIFA’s Technical Study Group has decided the first goal of Nigeria, scored in the fifth minute, was an own goal by Tahiti number 10 player, Nicolas Valler.
"The goal was initially awarded to Nigeria’s Uwa Echiejile but after careful review was credited as an own goal."
A second player, Jonathan Tehau, also scored an own goal for Tahiti after scoring the first goal ever in a FIFA tournament for Tahiti, making him the first player in the history of Confederation Cup to score a goal and an own goal.
Nigeria tops Group ‘B’ of the FIFA Confederation Cup with three points, the same as Spain but ahead on goals’ difference.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play against the national team of Uruguay on Thursday in Salvador, Brazil.