AFCON Under-20: Nigeria Eagles Books World Cup Ticket, Qualify For Semi Finals

By Akinwale Kasali

The Coach Ladan Bosso-led Flying Eagles has booked a ticket for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup slated for Indonesia later in the Year. The team defeated the Young Cranes of Uganda 1-0 in a pulsating Quarter Final Match.

The African Youth Under-20 Championships taking place in Egypt saw the Nigeria Flying starting on a losing note.

They lost their first match to the Young Teranga Lions of Senegal 1-0 before defeating Host, Egypt 1-0 and Mozambique 2-0 in their last two matches to book a place in the Quarterfinals.

The win against Uganda in the last eight made sure the most populous Black Nation picked one of the four available tickets for the continent to hoist its flag at the World Championship.

An own goal from Uganda defender Ibrahim Juma before the end of the first half saw the Ladan Bosso-led side emerge winners in a keenly contested tie at the 22,000-capacity Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, and will be at the World Cup taking place in Indonesia between May 20 and June 11.

Goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso, who has been huge for the Flying Eagles since taking over the sticks after the opening day defeat to Senegal in Cairo, captained in the absence of the suspended Daniel Bameyi, but was unfazed by the band and gave another assuring performance for the seven-time champions.

As early as the 10th minute, he had to enact a reflex save to stop a bullet header from a corner kick.

Both teams continued to frisk for opportunities with Nigeria’s Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki probing deep but undone mostly by inaccurate passes and poor ball-holding in the final quarter.

However, on the dot of half hour, Ibrahim Muhammad, who scored one of the goals that sank Mozambique on the final day of Group A attrition, latched onto a long ball from the defence, controlled well and fired. His effort saw the ball hit the upright, and in his confusion, defender Ibrahim Juma helped the ball into his own net for the only goal of the match.

Muhammad should have made it two to purchase a cruise for Nigeria only four minutes after the restart, but he put too much power behind his turn and shot.

On the hour mark and seven minutes after, Aniagboso saved point-blank efforts that sustained Nigeria’s lead, and in the 80thminute, Samson Lawal spun the ball away from goal from a 22 -yard free-kick.

Victory earned Nigeria a slot in Monday’s semi-finals as well as a ticket to Indonesia. The Flying Eagles will take on the winner of the clash between Congo and Tunisia, happening at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has told the country’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles to focus their minds on winning Monday’s semi-final clash with either The Gambia or South Sudan to reach the Final of the 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations ongoing in Egypt.

Speaking to the players and officials in their dressing room at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium after the victory over Uganda on Thursday, which qualified the Flying Eagles for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals, Gusau lauded the spirited efforts of the squad and implored them to do even better against the opponents in the last four.

“You have done a great job in achieving our first objective here, which is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. With the World Cup ticket in our pouch, it is now time to go for the trophy itself.

“Our country has won this same trophy seven times before but our last triumph was eight years ago, in Senegal. Time for another triumph. For now, the semi-final is what is in front of you and what you must focus hard on,” Gusau, who was in company with Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Alhaji Nura Abba Rimi, said.

Nigeria will face the winner between South Sudan and the Gambia who play on Friday evening.