lying Eagles Plays Cameroon for AYC Trophy

Daily Independent (Lagos)

28 April 2011

Flying Eagles qualified for the final of the African Youth Championship (AYC) on Thursday with a 2-0 defeat of Mali in the first semi-finals. The five time winners will play Cameroon in the final on Sunday for a possible sixth title.

Cameroon defeated Egypt 5-4 on penalties after playing goalless on regulation and extratime. Cameroon had defeated Nigeria 1-0 during the group stages.

Uche Nwofor jabbed in Flying Eagles first goal on 22nd minute off Olarenwaju Kayode’s pass with Stanley Okoro ensuring victory with an injury time penalty.

There was controversy around the Nigerian opener with several Mali players protesting that Kayode used his hand rather than his head to steer the the ball into the path of Nwofor, television replays proved inconclusive.

Amara Malle struck the post with a shot from 18-yards as Mali looked to get back into the game, while just before the break Nwofor should have grabbed his second as his point-blank header was brilliantly saved by Cheick Sy in the Malien goal.

Ibrahim Diallo should have leveled up the game with that header that struck the woodwork with 16 minutes on the clock, but the win was finally made safe for Nigeria eight minutes into injury-time as Kayode was felled in the area and Okoro kept his nerve to score the spot-kick.

All four semi-finalists have qualified for the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia later this year.

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