NIGERIA LIFTS FIFA U-17 CUP
Golden Eaglets blank title holders Mexico 3-0 to clinch fourth Under-17 World Cup
Nigerian players celebrate with their trophy after they won the Fifa U-17 World Cup 2013 at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Nigeria won the final against Mexico 3-0.
abu dhabi — In the end, there was nobody that could stop them. A relentless and ruthless Nigeria blanked title holders Mexico to lay their hands on the Fifa Under-17 World Cup for a fourth time, and in Asia, at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night.
Watched by 20,018 fans, predominantly Nigerians and with a fair share of Mexicans, the Golden Eaglets put it past El Tri 3-0 in the final.
Musa Yahaya scored on nine minutes, while Kalechi Iheanacho added the second on 56 minutes. Captain Musa Mohammed then rounded it off with the third, nine minutes from time.
Nigeria have scored 23 goals so far this campaign. The record for a single edition is held by Germany, who hit 24 in 2011.
Nigeria’s previous three title wins came in 1985, 1993 and 2007.
This was the fourth U-17 World Cup to be staged in Asia. Nigeria won all three of the previous editions in China 1985, Japan 1993 and Korea Republic 2007.
Nigeria were playing in their seventh U-17 World Cup final, more than any other team has contested. The Golden Eaglets’ record in past title deciders stands at three wins and three defeats.
Meanwhile, Mexico missed the chance to clinch a second consecutive U-17 world title, a feat achieved only by Brazil in 199799.
This was the fifth time that two teams that met in the group round and were reunited in the final. The same thing happened with Soviet Union and Nigeria in 1987, Spain and Ghana in 1991, Brazil and Australia in 1999 and finally France and Nigeria in 2001.
Even though Nigeria began with all guns blazing, Mexico did have a foot in the game and managed to keep the Golden Eaglets in check.
In what was a fast-paced affair, Mexico had the first opportunity of the match when Ivan Ochoa came close in the very eighth minute. But his threatening header was tapped over the cross bar by goalkeeper Dele Alampasu.
But it didn’t take long for Nigeria to surge ahead as they took the lead in the very next minute. Quick on the break, Taiwo Awoniyi sprinted through the middle of the pitch and got into the box before passing it to Musa Yahaya on the left. Yahaya then slotted it home with ease.
Mexico came up with a couple of opportunities but Ulises Jaimes and Luis Hernandez could make it count. Mexican captain Ulises Rivas sent in neat free kick to the far post but Jaimes’ header from close range, was tapped over the cross bar for a corner, by Alampasu, on 31 minutes.
Seven minutes later, Hernandez’s curling freekick was caught by Alampasu.
Nigeria hit back in the same minute through a counter-strike. Kelechi Iheancacho played a fine thrugh ball to Awoniyi, who darted down the right as the goalkeeper Raul Gudino charged out. But his effort, from an acute angle, hit the side netting.
Nigeria then had the Mexican defence in tatters with five minutes left in the first half but Yahaya drilled it into the woodwork, from the tip of the box.
Nigeria could have gone in with a 2-0 lead into half-time after twin attempts with a minute left for the break. But Awoniyi saw his bicycle kick blocked by Gudino before Aliyu Abubakar rebound attempt in front of goalmouth was pushed away to safety by the custodian.
Nigeria were relentless in their pursuit and continued in the same vein after the break. Akinjide Idowu saw his dangerous pile driver being fumbled but collected by Gudino on 51 minutes.
Nigeria deservedly took the lead on 56 minutes through Iheanacho, their hero in Mexico’s 6-1 demolition in the opening group game. Captain Musa Mohammed fired in a scorcher from the right but a diving Gudino could only manage to block it. Iheanancho, who had scored four goals in that fixture, was lurking in front of goal and tapped home the rebound.
Despite being two goals in arrears, Mexico tried to make a fist of it and came close to opening their account on 77 minutes but the impressive Ochoa’s header after a cross from the right, just whizzed past the right upright.
Nigeira completed the rout with none other captain Musa Mohammed scoring the third on 81 minutes. Musa’s freekick from the edge of the box, hit the right upright and went in.