Nigeria Beat Senegal, Book Ticket To FIFA U-20 World Cup

Nigeria Beat Senegal, Book Ticket To FIFA U-20 World Cup

Precious Oham

Nigeria's Flying Eagles have qualified for the semifinal of the ongoing U20 AFCON in Egypt, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Flying Eagles, who by extension qualified for the FIFA U20 World Cup, defeated the title-holders Senegal via penalties after the game ended 0-0 after extra time.

Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt turned out to be the hero, punching over a vicious shot by the dangerous Ibrahima Dieng in the the 54th minute, and then saving two kicks in the shootout before Ousmane Konate blasted his kick against the sticks to hand victory to the Flying Eagles.

An intense opening stage in sunny Ismailia soon gave way to back-and-forth, and the defending champions came close in the 27th minute when Harcourt inadvertently dropped the ball but Dieng failed to find gold.

Fifteen minutes later, the Lion Cubs again broke forward, but Dieng’s header saw the ball kiss the upright.

Nigeria largely controlled proceedings in the last quarter-hour, with Divine Oliseh, Kparobo Arierhi and substitute Precious Benjamin all missing good chances.

In extra time, substitute Tahir Maigana rattled Senegal goalkeeper Mouhamed Sissokho with a great shot from distance, and Israel Ayuma’s heaved effort from a free-kick on the left forced Sissokho to backtrack quickly and punch the ball over the bar.

After substitute Pierre Diatta Dorival’s first kick in the shootout was saved by Harcourt and Precious Benjamin scored, Nigeria rose to the ascendancy, and won after further goals by Emmanuel Chukwu and Israel Ayuma, while the Senegalese could only score one of their four kicks.

Victory sets the Flying Eagles up against the winner of Monday night’s clash between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, also at the same venue.