Six-time African U20 Championship winners, the Flying Eagles yesterday defeated the Black Satellites of Ghana by 2-0 in the semifinal tie at the ongoing Senegal 2015 African Youth Championship.
A handful of Nigerian whistle blowing fans were thrilled to football spectacle as the Flying Eagles cruised past the Ghanaians at Stade LS Senghor, Dakar.
With only five minutes into play, the stadium erupted with songs from the Nigerian fans asking the Flying Eagles to open scoring. Instead, it was the Ghanaians that were close to going ahead but Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Joshua Enaholo was equal to the task. The MFM FC goalie parried over the bar Yaw Yeboah’s curling free kick in the 11th minute.
The game became a ding dong affair thereafter with both sides threatening each other.
Luck, however, smiled at the Manu Garba lads as Obinna Nwobodo got a surprise goal from a header to shoot Nigeria into the lead with the Nigerian fans chanting ceaselessly.
Nigeria again came close to increasing the tally with Sale combining with Awoniyi up front but the ball came off the line to deny them another goal in the 25th minute.
Moments later, the Ghanaians intelligence at taking free kicks almost paid off but Flying Eagles had the upright to thank as it denied Yeboah an equalizer in the 30th minute.
The first half ended with the Flying Eagles leading by a lone goal.
On resumption of play, the Ghanaians took over and piled pressure in a bid to come back into the game.
On several occasions, the Black Satellites were unlucky with their final kick failing them.
Sale was withdrawn for Ibrahim Abdullahi in the 55th minute to add some peps to the Nigerian attack.
The introduction paid off with the Ghanaians hacking down Musa Mohammed in the 18-yard box as referee Redqusne Jiyed from Morocco wasted no time from awarding a penalty in the 69th minute. The Flying Eagles skipper, who is also a specialist in spot kick, stepped up to net the second goal on the night.
The Flying Eagles would be meeting the winner of Senegal, Mali in the final match on Sunday.
