Nigeria’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets are through to the final qualifying round of the 2015 African Championship to be hosted in Niger after a 5-0 aggregate win against Les Leopards of Congo
Democratic Republic.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg second round match played in Kinshasa last weekend, the Golden Eaglets confirmed their superiority yet again with a 3-0 win at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday in front of appreciative home fans.
There were first half goals for Suleiman Abdullahi, Victor Osimhen while Kehinde Ayinde and Samuel Chukwueze added the other two in the second half.
In attendance to watch the second leg encounter was Ogun State’s First Lady, Mrs. Olufunso Ibikunle who stood in for His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the Special Guest of Honour; Dr. Lanre Tejuoso( State’s Commissioner for Youth & Sport; Chief Mike Umeh, the NFF’s Acting President and his 1st Vice, Dr. Shehu Adamu amongst other important dignitaries.
The Golden Eaglets dominated the game right from the outset with some good positional play but failed to convert early chances.
But on the dot of 30th minute, Suleiman Abdullahi scrambled the ball into the net
for the first goal after the Congolese failed to clear a dropped Kingsley Michael’s by goalkeeper Sese Bia Israel.
Michael nearly added the second goal five minutes later when his long range shot was parry away by Israel. From then, the Golden Eaglets mounted pressure forcing the Congolese to concede a corner in the 42nd minute.
Suleiman took the resultant free kick and Victor Osimhen nodded into the net after Israel’s failed to hold tightly to the ball.
At the restart, the Congolese nearly pulled a goal back in the 47th minute but Djemes Diala’s angular shot was caught by Goalkeeper Akpan Udoh. Udoh was also at his best few minutes later when he touched away Mutatu Mbedi’s well struck free kick.
Amuneke pulled out injured Chinedu Ndu for Samuel Chukwueze and it was the gifted striker that provided Kehinde Ayinde to bury the ball beyond Israel for the third goal in the 67th.
The last moment was very dramatic as Abdullahi saw his ball hit the goal post after the goalkeeper has been well displaced by Chukwueze in the 89th minute. But Chukwueze still had the final word when he drove the ball into the net with almost the last kick of the match.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets would now meet Gabon in the third and final round towards a place in the next African U-17 Championship after the latter eliminated Ethiopia on a 3-0 aggregate on Saturday.
Golden Eaglets Vs. Congo DR
A.Udoh- A. Muhammed (L. John 90), A. Usman; A.Bamidele, L. Halilu – E.
Agenor, K. Nwakali. K.Michael (, C. Ndu 57; S. Chukwueze 64) S.
Abdullahi -K.Ayinde, V.Osimhen
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