Restive Zambian fans launched an attack on Nigeria’s national Under 23 team following their team’s 1-2 loss to the Nigerian side at home on Sunday.
It took the timely intervention of policemen in the arena to rescue the Dream Team from the attack as the fans were throwing missiles on the pitch in protest of their team’s loss.
Striker Taiwo Awoniyi grabbed a brace to send Nigeria through to the football event of the 2015 All Africa Games after both teams played out a 0-0 draw in Abuja three weeks ago.
On Sunday, Zambia attacked from the onset and carved several chances, but it was 17-year-old Awoniyi, drafted into the team for this return match, who put the visitors ahead on 34 minutes.
Zambia continued to pile on the pressure and they were rewarded in the 76th with the equaliser through substitute Friday Samu from close range after he was set up by Shederack Malambo.
However, Awoniyi put the encounter beyond the Zambians with just minutes to spare with his second strike.
Two minutes after Awoniyi’s winner, goalkeeper Daniel denied Zambia a second equalizer as he tipped Moses Phiri’s effort over the bar for a corner.
On his Facebook, Awoniyi wrote: “Even at the point of my head hair been a tongue of praise, they not enough to worship the author, creator of the heaven n earth…won’t stop praising U LORD….tank U Lord JESUS.”
Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the last AAG, will now join Burkina Faso and Sudan in the eight-team competition in September.