Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Friday in Niamey pipped a hard fighting Nigeriens at the ongoing AFCON U-20 football Championship. Ibrahim Alhazan 73rd minutes deadlock relieved Paul Aigbogun fierce fight from their counterparts from Niger Republic to qualify for the Semi-final of the AFCON U20 championship.
The slim win over their well determined host in the keenly contested final group game played in Niamey also saw them clinching one of the four tickets to the World Cup to be staged in Poland later in the year.
Adamu Alhassan, with a sumptuous free-kick in the 73rd minute, scored what turned to be the only goal of Friday’s encounter and Nigerians who have been practically resorting to defensively tactis from the second half got a total delivery from Nigeriens fireworks.
Eagles Goalkeeper, Olawale Oremade extends his clean sheets with Ikouwem Etim, Valentine Ozonwafor, Mike Zaruma and Igo Ogbuh doing a decent job at the heart of the defence to ensure a clean bill of health in this tournament, having kept another clean sheet on Friday.
With Nigeria and South Africa sealing their places on Friday, three of Africa’s flagbearers at this summer’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland have been known.
Senegal, will play Burkina Faso in Maradi on Saturday, have already picked a ticket to World Cup while Burkina Faso have been eliminated after two los.
On the table Nigeria have 7 points plus 3 goals, while South Africa have 5 points plus 1 goal. Burundi and Niger Republic eliminated with 2 point and 1 point respectfully.
In group B, Senegal have secured a passage to the world cup after recording a 6 points in the first two matches and the second group B tickets would be decided later today Saturday by 4:30pm, Nigerian time between Mali and Ghana who have 3 points each. The match between Senegal and Burkina Faso remains a dead rubber game to played simultaneously.
