Nigeria………..(1) 2 Uche Nwofor (22min), Stanley Okoro (94min)
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles became the first side through to the 2011 Caf African Youth Championship final thanks to a 2-0 victory over Mali at the Dobsonville Stadium today. Nigeria’s win in today’s first semi-final keeps them on track for an unprecedented sixth African Youth Championship title.
The Flying Eagles had met Mali four times previously without defeat at this tournament – winning two and drawing two – and they were the quickest out of the starting blocks.
Coming off the back of a hard-fought 2-0 win over Gambia last time out the Flying Eagles took control of the game while Mali’s game-plan seemed to be to sit back and catch Nigeria on the counterattack, similar to what they had done in their surprise 1-0 win over Egypt in the group stages.
But the Eaglets’ reluctance to push forward served only to pin them back and by the 22nd minute Nigeria had taken lead after Chidi Osuchukwu’s cross eventually found its way to an unmarked Uche Nwofor who had the simple job of stroking the ball into the net.
It was Nwofor’s third goal of the tournament moving him to the top of the goalscoring charts alongside South Africa striker Lucky Nguzana.
Nwofor’s goal however wasn’t without controversy with several Mali players protesting Olanrewaju Kayode had cheekily used his hand rather than his head to steer the ball past goalkeeper Cheick Cadri into Nwofor’s path.
The second half was a much more even affair, and with Nigeria again struggling to find their rhythm without dangerman Ahmed Musa, Mali slowly turned the screws and increasingly threatened to find an equaliser. But the Group A winners’ challenge was ended in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Stanley Okoro coolly slotted home a penalty after a desperate foul on Kayode.
Nigeria, whose team is largely made up of their under-17 side that were runners-up at the 2009 Fifa Under-17 World Cup, now await the winner of the second semi-final between Cameroon and Egypt.
“We played against a Malian team which was very strong. Coming into this game we observed each other and we knew it will be tough, but we took advantage of the opportunities we had,” Nigeria coach John Obuh told cafonline after his side’s win.
By making it through to the African Youth Championship semi-finals, Nigeria had already qualified for this year’s Fifa Under-20 World Cup where they are pitted in Group D alongside Guatemala, Croatia and Saudi Arabia. However, before that the Flying Eagles’ mission is to rule Africa once more.
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