WAFU B TOURNAMENT ! Benin stop Golden Eaglets via 3-1 penalty

The Golden Eaglets failed to book their ticket for the Final Match of the WAFU B Tournament on Friday following a 3-1 penalty shoot-out loss to Republic of Benin-after both neighbours had played out a pulsating 1-1 draw.

Golden Eaglets’ second-half substitute, Suleiman Abdullahi cancelled Benin’s Adaomu Nassiru early minute lead and a winner did not emerge in regulation and extra time Golden Eaglets started the game without injured midfielder Kingsley Michael who was replaced by Dayo Femi.

But as early as the second minute, Femi was punished for ball-watching when fleet-footed Nassiru ghosted past him to score the opening goal of the match. Few minutes later, it was the turn of the Eaglets on the other end when Joshua Auta nearly grabbed the equaliser but his shot was cuddled by the Benin’s goalkeeper.

The Nigerians were undeterred despite good possession of the ball by the Beninois and about a quarter of an hour, Orji Okonkwo latched on to a through pass from Kehinde Ayinde.

The languid striker out-paced two defenders and shot straight into the net but his joy of grabbing an equalizer was short-lived by Nigerien referee, Lalidia Souleymane who ruled otherwise.

Jack Ipalibo also went close in the 37th minute when he drove through the pack but saw his pile driver missing the target. Towards the end of the first half, it was the Nigerians who were on the receiving end and were twice saved by the bar in the 42nd and 4th minute.

In the second half, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke brought in Suleiman Abdullahi for Dayo and his inclusion brought some order to the
Nigerian midfield. The Golden Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi Nwakali was hacked down in the box in the 63rd minute but referee Souleymane did not call for any infringement. But Abdullahi finally got the equalizer for the Eaglets in the 68th minute when he scrambled the ball into the net off a corner kick.

The match could not produce a winner even after 30 minutes of extra-time and the Beninois triumphed in the ensuing penalty shootout; the Golden Eaglets would now face the loser of the second semi-fina match between Mali and hosts, Togo on Sunday.

In attendance at the match were Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Togo, Ambassador Mathew Sunday Adoli and his counterpart in Benin, Lawrence Olufemi Obisakin and his wife; Alhaji Yussuf Fresh, a board member of the NFF and Leader of Delegation to Togo; Mr. Patrick Pascal (special assistant to NFF’s President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari) amongst others.

Golden Eaglets complete mauling of Mali…As Amuneke Denies being involved in Fisticuffs

Golden Eaglets complete mauling of Mali
…get another 2-0 win

The Golden Eaglets on Wednesday yet again confirmed their supremacy over their Malian counterparts with another 2-0 win at the WAFU B Tournament in Togo.

Two goals in the second half by Orji Okonkwo and Kehinde Ayinde cemented the Golden Eaglets top-place finish in Group B with the
maximum six points following an identical 2-0 win against their West African foes earlier on Monday.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke kept faith with the same starting line-up he used on Monday and the only notable change for Mali was goalkeeper Samuel Diarra who replaced Traore Alou.

But it was the Malians that started on the offensive after Togolese referee Kossi Azaleko signalled Nigeria to take the mandatory
kick-off. As early as the third minute of the match, the Malians nearly went in front but were denied by brilliant Amos Benjamin in
goal for the Golden Eaglets.

The Nigerian youngsters responded well and both Kehinde Ayinde and Kingsley Michael buried the ball behind goalkeeper Suleiman in the 15th and 26thth minute respectively but referee Azaleko ruled both goals off-side. He also cancelled out a goal by the Malians in the 18th due to off side.

Azaleko was jeered by the fans towards the end of the first half for disallowing what looked like a legitimate goal for the Golden Eaglets orchestrated from a sweet passing movement by the quartet of Orji Okonkwo; Ayinde; Dauda Ganiyu and Jack Ipalibo.

But the stadium finally came alive in the second half with the Eaglets on the offensive and they were soon rewarded when Ayinde sent a perfect cross for Okonkwo to nod home the first goal in the 48th minute.

The goal brought confidence into the Eaglets and they held on to the lead despite occasional threats by the Malians. From the 70th
minutes, the Nigerians virtually dominated the game but the second goal of the match did not come until the 84th minute.

Man of the match, Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi Nwakali sent a long range pass to Abdulganiyu who side-stepped two opposing defenders before releasing the ball for Ayinde to put behind goalkeeper Diarra for the second goal of the match. The Golden Eaglets would now face the runners up of Group A in one of the semi-finals on Thursday

Golden Eaglets vs. Mali
A. Benjamin (F. Idowu 91st) – A. Joshua. Gbadamosi; N. Hamza; A. Bamidele;- J. Ipalibo(S. Abdullahi 62nd );K.Michael; Nwakali; D.
Abdulganiyu- O. Okonkwo; K. Ayinde

‘Amuneke not involved in fisticuffs’

Prince Udofia, the Golden Eaglets’ coordinator has flatly denied story making the rounds that the national Under-17 Team’s coach, Emmanuel Amuneke’ was involved in a fist cuff at the team’s Blue Angel Hotel camp in Lome on Tuesday.

Udofia said the spurious report posted on the bogus web site, allnigeriasoccer.com, that Amuneke was slapped by a certain Henry
Galeano over the transfer package of Kelechi Iheanacho to Manchester City was a mere figment of imagination of the reporter.

“We wondered what was the motive behind the report that coach Amuneke was slapped by an agent?” thundered Udofia, the no-nonsense Team Manager of Abia Warriors. “There was nothing like that because in the first instance, we don’t even entertain any agent within the confines of the camp.

“If anything of such happened, we would have reported to relevant authorities here since we are representing the country and we are
adequately catered for by the Togolese security personnel.” Udofia has, therefore, advised the public to be wary of stories emanating from the specious allnigeriasoccer.com web site which is notorious for maligning the reputation of individuals on the altar of yellow journalism.

“We don’t want any distraction here and I personally want to appeal to our friends in the media to crosscheck their facts before rushing to the press,” he said. “We wouldn’t have dignified allnigeriasoccer.com web site with any response but we found it expedient so that they would not continue to feed unsuspecting Nigerian public with tissue of lies.”