Nigeria’s Flying Eagles qualify for African Games football final

August 27, 2019
Tunde Eludini

The Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, have qualified for the final of the football event at the ongoing African Games in Morocco.

The Flying Eagles went the whole mile before they could defeat their counterparts from Mali 5-4 on penalties.

Both teams had fired blanks over 120 minutes before Nigeria prevailed in the ensuing penalty kicks.

Tuesday’s victory is perfect revenge for coach Paul Aigbogun’s men who were edged out in the semi-final stage of the African Youth Championships by the same Malian team earlier in the year.

To get to this stage in Morocco, the Flying Eagles drew with Burkina Faso (1-1) and Morocco (2-2) and defeated South Africa (2-1) to reach the last four at this tournament.

This will be the first time Nigeria will play the final match in the African Games since their 0-1 loss to Algeria in 1978.

Aside from the gold medal of the football event won on home soil in 1973 in Lagos, the football gold has been elusive for Nigeria ever since.

Interestingly, the Nigeria U-20 female team, the Falconets, also thrashed their counterparts from Algeria 3-0 on Monday to qualify for the final of the football event at the ongoing African Games in Morocco.

Cynthia Aku scored two first-half goals before Zainab Olapade added another much later to take Nigeria closer to winning a third gold medal in women football at the African Games.

Nigeria U20W 3-0 Algeria U20W: Falconets break African Games final jinx

26/08/2019

With the triumph over the Desert Foxes, the West Africans have reached the final stage for the first time since 2007

Nigeria have ended their 12-year wait for a spot in the final of the African Games after thrashing Algeria 3-0 in the semi-final in Morocco on Monday.

The West Africans won the competition twice but had failed to reach the final stage since 2007, when they last won in Algiers.

Having advanced to the semi-final for the third time in four attempts, the Nigerians were hoping to subdue the Desert Foxes to boost their chance to reclaim the glory on North African soil.

The Falconets started on a high as they dominated possession before Cynthia Aku opened the scoring after finishing off Monday Gift's fine build-up in the 16th minute.

Ten minutes later, Rivers Angels' Aku hit her brace after she again benefited from a sumptuous pass from captain Gift to double the advantage for Nigeria.

After the restart, Christopher Danjuma's side failed to impose their dominance over Naima Laouadi's team until substitute Zaniab Olapade added a third in additional time to wrap up the victory.

The result also means Danjuma, on his birthday, has led the nation to the final for the first time on the second attempt, after he failed to achieve the feat in Brazzaville four years ago. 

Nigeria will take on the winner between Cameroon and hosts Morocco in the final at the Boubker Aamar Stadium on August 29.

fergie001:
Why not against South Africa nah?



Go for glory.

naptu2:


We beat South Africa in both the men and women's competitions earlier.

adedamola17:
Am I the only one seeing two different jerseys @the females pic

fergie001:
Why not against South Africa nah?



Go for glory.