F/Eagles dump Tanzania for SA clash
Alhaji Gero against Tanzania on Sunday
South Africa U20s qualify
Nigeria U20s recorded the double over Tanzania with a 2-0 home
win on Sunday to set up a cracking AYC clash against South Africa next month.
The Flying Eagles thus advanced to the third round of the qualifying tournament for the 2013 African Youth Championship on a 4-1 aggregate having won the first leg 2-1 in Dar es Salaam two weeks ago.
“This was our first competitive game at home. We won and I believe that has helped us to overcome any nerves (of playing in front of the home fans). I believe our next home game will be better,” assured Nigeria coach John Obuh after the match played at a packed Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.
His Tanzania counterpart, Jakob Michelsen, said it was in general a balanced game but Nigeria deserved their victory.
“Congratulations to Nigeria, they deserved to win but my boys also did a very good job in a very balanced game,” said the young Dane.
The Flying Eagles will now play away to the Amajita of South Africa on September 22 in Johannesburg with the return leg a fortnight later.
Both teams clashed in June in an invitational tournament in Cape Town with the South Africans running away 1-0 winners.
Midfielder Abduljaleel Ajagun opened scoring for the home team with a superb shot from outside the box which beat goalkeeper Aishi Manula after just 14 minutes.
The African champions doubled their advantage on 65 minutes through a penalty converted by Alhaji Gero after a player of Ngorogoro Heroes handled the ball inside his box.
A headed goal by Bright Ejike in the 21st minute was disallowed by the Liberian referee, who made several questionable calls against the hosts.
The visitors enjoyed some good moments especially in the second half when they stepped up their play in a bid to come back into the game.
Msuva Happygod carved at least two chances in the second half, in the 59th and 61st minutes, but his efforts would scream narrowly off target.
Skipper Seme Omega also drove a shot at goal early in the second half but it missed the target not by much.
Substitute Moses Orkuma and Aminu Umar also came close for Nigeria late in the second half but could not increase the margin.
Flying Eagles starting XI
Samuel Okani – Hassan Abubakar, Aliyu Mohammed, Ikechukwu Okorie, Chizoba Amaefule – Abduljaleel Ajagun, Umar Aminu (Moses Orkuma 59), Bright Ejike (Yahaya Adamu 77), Alhaji Gero (Abubakar Umar 87), Chidi Osuchukwu
Coach: John Sam Obuh
Bookings: Ikechukwu Okorie, Abduljaleel Ajagun
The Flying Eagles thus advanced to the third round of the qualifying tournament for the 2013 African Youth Championship on a 4-1 aggregate having won the first leg 2-1 in Dar es Salaam two weeks ago.
“This was our first competitive game at home. We won and I believe that has helped us to overcome any nerves (of playing in front of the home fans). I believe our next home game will be better,” assured Nigeria coach John Obuh after the match played at a packed Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.
His Tanzania counterpart, Jakob Michelsen, said it was in general a balanced game but Nigeria deserved their victory.
“Congratulations to Nigeria, they deserved to win but my boys also did a very good job in a very balanced game,” said the young Dane.
The Flying Eagles will now play away to the Amajita of South Africa on September 22 in Johannesburg with the return leg a fortnight later.
Both teams clashed in June in an invitational tournament in Cape Town with the South Africans running away 1-0 winners.
Midfielder Abduljaleel Ajagun opened scoring for the home team with a superb shot from outside the box which beat goalkeeper Aishi Manula after just 14 minutes.
The African champions doubled their advantage on 65 minutes through a penalty converted by Alhaji Gero after a player of Ngorogoro Heroes handled the ball inside his box.
A headed goal by Bright Ejike in the 21st minute was disallowed by the Liberian referee, who made several questionable calls against the hosts.
The visitors enjoyed some good moments especially in the second half when they stepped up their play in a bid to come back into the game.
Msuva Happygod carved at least two chances in the second half, in the 59th and 61st minutes, but his efforts would scream narrowly off target.
Skipper Seme Omega also drove a shot at goal early in the second half but it missed the target not by much.
Substitute Moses Orkuma and Aminu Umar also came close for Nigeria late in the second half but could not increase the margin.
Flying Eagles starting XI
Samuel Okani – Hassan Abubakar, Aliyu Mohammed, Ikechukwu Okorie, Chizoba Amaefule – Abduljaleel Ajagun, Umar Aminu (Moses Orkuma 59), Bright Ejike (Yahaya Adamu 77), Alhaji Gero (Abubakar Umar 87), Chidi Osuchukwu
Coach: John Sam Obuh
Bookings: Ikechukwu Okorie, Abduljaleel Ajagun
Aliyu Mohammed, Abuljellel Ajagun, Bright Ejike, Chidi Osuchukwu. These players were all part of the previous U20. The question is wont they be too old for the African & World championship proper if they qualify that will warrant the coach to look for replacements to these players then?
Let's see what the motto mouth SA fans will say when they get deboned in september 22nd by the African champion, the Flying Eaglets.
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