Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, on Saturday, extinguished the dreams of their eternal rivals, the Junior Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire, from progressing to the semi finals at the ongoing African Youth Championship in Senegal.
The Junior Lions of Senegal beat their Young Red Devils of Congo counterparts in a seven-goal thriller in Dakar to earn five points to pick a semi final ticket ahead of the Junior Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire, who ended on three points
Nigeria qualified as group winners with seven points along with Senegal, while Cote d’ Ivoire and Congo return home.
The Nigerian lads started on a solid note with attempts to break into the Ivorians back line but it was the Junior Elephants that grabbed the opening goal against the run of play.
Ivorian frontman, Degbole Franck Anderson Niangbo, registered his name on the scorers sheet in the fifth minute, punishing the Nigerians for failing to settle quickly into the game.
Now down with a goal, the six-time winners of the competition, Nigeria, appeared desperate with Kalmar FC forward, Taiwo Awoniyi, trying to combine with new entrant and Dolphins striker, Christian Pyagbara, but they met a stiff resistance from the Ivorian defenders.
The situation almost got worse for Nigeria in the 14th minute, with the Ivorians almost coming close to increasing the tally, but goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke was well positioned to stop the ball from sailing into the net.
Nigeria’s attempts at goal somewhat yielded fruit in the 27th minute as Obinna Nwobodo set up Pygbara to level scorer for Nigeria.
The striker, who had been silent in the game, placed Ivorian goalkeeper, Seck Aboubakar Diabagate, to the left.
Expectedly, Nigerian fans, who had travelled all the way from Dakar to Mbour, began to to cheer their darling team.
Ivorian Chris Bile Bedia shut up the Nigerian fans with another goal as they returned into the lead.
The Nigerian back four failed to clear their lines for Bedia to hit the back of the net in the 33rd minute of the encounter.
Moments later, Skipper Musa Muhammed almost ruined the Nigerian side with yet another mistake, but Ivorian Yakou Meite’s shot was too weak to beat Olorunleke.
The Flying Eagles failed to level up despite the additional three minutes as the Junior Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire led 2-1 into the interval.
On resumption from break, the Manu Garba lads looked composed and in desperate search for an equaliser.
Olorunleke again saved the day for Nigeria as he brilliantly parried an on target strike for a resultant corner kick in the 53rd minute.
In the 63rd minute, the Nigerian lads pressured the Ivorian defence and in the process Dagou Willie Britto hacked down rampaging Mustapha Abdullahi in vital area.
Referee Mutaz Abdelbasiy Khairala from Sudan almost immediately sounded his whistle for a penalty, which was converted by Musa Muhhammed for the Flying Eagles.
In the 84th minute, Ivorian Yakou Miete wasted another begging opportunity to nick the winner and also take the Junior Elephants to the U20 World Cup.
The game ended two-all as Nigeria returned to Dakar for the semi finals on Wednesday.
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