AAG: Flying Eagles Fails To Break 40-Years Jinx, Loses Final

By Akinwale Kasali

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria has failed to break the 40-year jinx that always stopped Nigeria from winning the gold medal at the All African Games.

The Paul Aigbogun-tutored squad lost to Burkina Faso 2-0 in the final of the male soccer event at the  on-going All African Games in Morocco.

The two quick first half goals from Burkina Faso saw the Nigerian side disorganised, and could not register any goal till the end of the match.

The Flying Eagles had earlier played the Burkina Faso team in the group stage of the competition, with the game ending in a 1-1 stalemate.

The Aigbogun team came second behind Burkina Faso in the group, defeating South Africa 2-0 and playing a 2-2 draw with the host nation, Morocco, to advance to the Semi-Final where it traded tackles with Mali.

The Malians forced the game into extra time after both teams played goalless draw at regulation time. Both teams were inseparable, as the game stretched to penalties.

Nigeria defeated Mali 5-4 on penalties to book a place in the final against Burkina Faso.

The Flying Eagles settled for the Silver medal to increase Nigeria’s medal haul at the competition.

The last time Nigeria won the Gold medal at the All African Games soccer event for male was in 1979.

The closest the male soccer team achieved was finishing second on the podium at the Abuja 2003 All African Games in Nigeria.

Nigeria lost to Cameroon 1-0 in the finals. At the 2015 All African Games in Brazzaville, Congo, the Nigeria male soccer team finished third.

Samson Siasia led the Nation’s Under-23 team to a bronze medal finish in 2015.

Earlier, the Falconets, the nation’s female Under-20 team had won the Gold Medal in the female soccer event, defeating Cameroon 5-3 on penalties to further announce the nation’s dominance in female football in the Continent.