|
| Nigeria : The Golden Eaglets make it three |
The final of the U-17 World Cup which opposed Nigeria to Spain yesterday Sunday 9 September in the Seoul FIFA World Cup Stadium was a glorious night for Nigerian football.
For the fourth time in that competition the final went to penalty kicks after 120 scoreless minutes. The Golden Eaglets kept their cool from the spot to beat Spain 3-0, after Nigeria’s keeper Oladele AJIBOYE saved two Spanish spotkicks. For the third time in their history the class of 2007 Golden Eaglets led this year by coach Yemi TELLA wrote their names alongside those who triumphed at China 1985 and Japan 1999. So Asia seems to be a blessed continent for Nigeria U-17 team.
Despite the lack of goals, the game was certainly not short of excitement, with both sides determined to go all out for victory. Spain coach Juan SANTISTEBAN opted out for a fluid –five-man midfield in a bid to dominate possession. In the absence of star striker BOJAN, the responsibility fell to midfielders Fran MERIDA, IAGO and LUKAS to get forward and support Dani AQUINO. Nigerian Yemi TELLA took a more direct approach to unsetting the Spanish backline by positioning right-footed playmaker Rabiu IBRAHIM to arrow high balls out to Ademola RAFEAL and Ganiyu OSENI on the flank and to powerful front-runner Macauley CHRISANTUS. Chances came and went for both sides during the hectic opening period. Nigeria went close on 29 minutes through left-sided midfielder RAFEAL whose effort slid past Spanish goalkeeper David DE GEA’s right-hand post. Spain struck back five minutes later, SERGIO seeing his close range shot cleared off the line with AJIBOYE beaten.
After the break both teams had opportunities to score but in vain. With just ten minutes of the 90 remaining, both coaches shuffled their packs: TELLA freshening up his forward line and SANTISTEBAN tinkering with his midfield. Both sides could have settled the match in the dying moments. First AJIBOYE saved from AQUINO a minute into injury time, and DE GEA then denied substitute ISA 60 seconds later, before AJIBOYE prevented Fran MERIDA grabbing the winner in the third minute of added time.
The extra-time period proved equally compelling. On the 105-minute mark, Nigeria defender Kingsley UDOH had La Selleccion hearts in their mouths, his remarkable speculative effort from around 55 meters catching DE GEA off his line only to come back off the crossbar. Eight minutes later OSENI found himself in a good position, only to blaze his effort over the top. Still the drama continued, IAGO powering a fierce drive at goal on 117th that looked destined for the back of the nest, only for AJIBOYE to turn it away for a corner kick. In spite of both sides’ best efforts, the 0-0 scoreline refused to budge after 120 minutes of exhilarating action. Matthew EDILE, Daniel JOSHUA and Ganiyu OSENI all made no mistake for Nigeria from the penalty spot, while Asier ILLARAMENDI missed Spain’s first kick before AJIBOYE denied both Fran MERIDA and IAGO to spark jubilant celebrations for the victorious Golden Eaglets.
Samuel MBAJUM
(Source: FIFA.com)
10/09/2007 |
|
|
