A 10-man Flying Eagles has finally secured their place in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand following their 4-1 win over the Young Red Devils of Congo on Wednesday at the Stade LS Senghor, Dakar, Senegal. The Manu Garba-tutored lads have secured the maximum six points from two games in their group at the ongoing African Youth Championship, tagged Senegal 2015. The Nigerian side began the tie Brightly with the top man, Taiwo Awoniyi, attempting a fast break in the opening minute, but he was curtailed by the Congolese defenders led by Faria Ondongo. The national U20 team attempts at goal yielded fruit as Ifeanyi Matthew was blessed with a pass from Chiderah Ezeh to grab his second goal of the tournament in the fourth minute. The Nigerian boys again came close to nicking another but Congolese goalie, Pavelh Ndzila, was well positioned to parry over the cross bar Skipper Musa Muhammed’s lob in the sixth minute of the tie. Mohammed then became the torn in the flesh of the Congolese with his dazzling runs and crosses from the right flank tormenting the defence line of the Young Red Devils. With beautiful skills on display, Nigerians resident in Dakar began to cheer the Flying Eagles, while they booed the Congolese. Matthew came to close to registering the second goal of the evening for Nigeria but his strike was too poor to cross the goal line. With Nigeria failing to covert their chances, the Young Red Devils of Congo gained some confidence and it propelled them to ask questions in the Nigerian defence. The pressure on Nigeria’s back line cost them their first goalkeeper, Joshua Enahoro, who earned the marching order for hacking down Fred Ngoma in 26th minute. With the goalkeeper sent off, the Nigerian bench responded swiftly with the introduction of Olorunleke Ojo as Chiderah Ezeh was withdrawn for tactical reasons. The Congolese would curse the day as they lost the battle by hackling down rampaging Awoniyi in the 33rd minute. Captain Muhammed stepped up to convert the spot kick. The Congolese again came calling for their first goal but Silvere Ganvoula Mavoungou’s header missed the target as Nigeria led 2-0 into the break. On resumption for the second 45 minutes, the Congolese started with a barrage of attacks and wanting to turn around their fortune, but the Paolo Berrettini lad lacked the confidence to break the rock solid Nigerian defence. The situation became worse for the Congolese as Awoniyi was brought down again in the 18-yard box by the same man, Mavoungou, in the 53rd minute. The Flying Eagles penalty specialist, Muhammed, stepped forward to covert it to put the score line at 3-0 in favour of Nigeria. The Congolese later got a consolation goal through France-based Silvere Ganvoula Mboussy before Awoniyi’s television goal to squash the Young Devils and ended the game at 4-1. Nigeria now tops Group A of the competition with six points and will travel out of Dakar to play their final game against Cote ‘d Ivoire in Mbour on Saturday.
