Flying Eagles Qualify for U-20 World Cup

Flying Eagles defeated hardfighting Congo 4-1 yesterday at the ongoing African Youth Championship in Dakar, Senegal to book their passage to the 2015 FIFA World Cup scheduled to hold in New Zealand.

Despite playing one-man short, the Manu Garba led team proved too strong for the Congolese to cope with. The victory thus earned Nigeria maximum six points from two matches in Group ‘A’.

Ifeanyi Matthew opened Nigeria’s goal haul with his fifth minute strike. He latched on a pass from Bernard Bulbwa to slot home past Congolese goal keeper, Pavelh Ndzila. That goal sent Nigerian fans inside the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar into a frenzy.

Series of efforts by Nigeria’s two-goal hero from the first game against Senegal, Taiwo Awoniyi, to increase the tally few minutes later failed to yield dividend.

However, it was the same Awoniyi that was brought down in the box for captain of the Flying Eagles, Musa Mohammed, to fire into the net for Nigeria’s second goal.

Muhammed made it 3-0 again from the penalty spot after 54 minutes of play when Awoniyi was again fouled inside the box by Cosme Mavoungou.

Congo reduced the tally after 62 minutes, when Silvere Mboussey connected home a long ball beyond Olorunleke Ojo who replaced Joshua Enaholo who got sent off for a professional foul on Constantin Bakaki. The Congolese was clear on goal after the Flying Eagles defence was caught napping.

Man-of-the-match Awoniyi however got his name on the scorers’ sheet when he scored a beauty goal in the 87th minute. He controlled a pass by Ifeanyi before smashing past the Congo goalkeeper almost in the same manner he did against Senegal in Nigeria’s first game against the host country.

He is now the leading scorer at the biennial championship with three goals.

The Flying Eagles last group match is against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday at the Stade Caroline Faye, M’Bour. A win will put Nigeria as winners of the group into the semifinal.