Nigeria/Algeria: Flying Eagles Edge Closer to Algeria 2013 After Amajita Draw

Photo: SAFA

The South Africa Under-20 Men’s National team – Amajita.

Nigeria U20s, the Flying Eagles, on Friday night in Nelspruit held hosts South Africa to a 1-1 draw in a first leg qualifier for the 2013 AYC.

The Amajita, who defeated their Nigerian counterparts 1-0 at an invitational tournament in May in Cape Town, struck first on 13 minutes through top striker Thabani Mthembu.

The Flying Eagles drew level in the 54th minute through the Abduljaleel Ajagun, who saw several other efforts were missed by the whiskers.

The home team, who were missing top star Snethemba Ngidi, sitting for his exams, continued to dictate the pace of the game even after the opening goal. Percy Tau shot missed narrowly on 18 minutes as the Amajita continued to use the long, high balls to unsettle the visitors.

Flying Eagles striker Alhaji Gero troubled the South African back four, occasionally starting a personal duel with big central defender Ismael Mngonyama, who will later be booked for a rough charge on the Rangers striker. In the 42nd minute a goal-bound shot from inside the box taken by Chidi Osuchkwu was miraculously blocked by the towering Mngonyama.

If the first half belonged to Amajita, the second half was for the Flying Eagles as they now settled down to play the passing game and not follow their opponents in the kick and rush style.

On 74 minutes substitute Umar Aminu beat the Amajita goalkeeper to an aerial ball but his header crashed against the crossbar and the onrushing Yahaya Adamu could not connect home for another big chance for Nigeria.

As the clock ran down, Nigeria finished the stronger and will be more fancied to finish off this contest by grabbing the ticket to the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria when both teams clash again on October 7 in Ilorin.

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