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…Substitute Goalkeeper Again saves Two Kicks from Egypt.
Africa’s most decorated U20 Male football team, The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday night at the 30 June Stadium in Egypt won her 5th Bronze medal in the tournament defeating hosts, Junior Pharaohs of Egypt 4-1 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at full time.
Just like injured Eagles goalkeeper Harcourt, substitute goalie, Abubakar stopped two penalty shots. Omar Kheda scored his first before Ahmed Soliman and Mohammed Ali shots were directly stopped by Abubakar.
All the kicks from Nigeria by Chukwu, Ayuma, Arierhi and Adamu Maigena who was declared Man of The Match sailed gracefully into the net.
Nigeria allowed Egypt to score the first goal in the 3rd minute throughOmar Hassan who connected Hemida but Substitute Oliseh who has become Mr MISS It for missing many chances in the tournament and missing another two in the 3rd place match found Bidemi Amole who gleefully equalized in the 47th minute of play.
Egypt missed two chances by the gap of the skin of the tooth that hit the upright each time in injury time of the second half. The match went straight into penalties at full time of 1-1. It was immediately that Nigeria’s goalkeeper Soliu Yakubu was brought out for Rufai Abubakar who went ahead to save two penalty shots.
It is noteworthy to inform you that Egypt never conceded a goal in 3rd place matches.
Egyptian Goalkeeper, Abdel Monem Tamer made 18 saves which was the 2nd highest after South African Goalkeeper, Fletcher Lowe 24 saves but conceded most goals among goalkeepers at the final rounds with 7 goals.
For Nigeria to get to play in the 3rd place match, she lost to South Africa by a lone goal in the semifinal; defeated defending Champions Senegal 3-1 on penalties after a goalless full time in the quarterfinal while at the group stages Nigeria drew 2-2 with Kenya; played goalless with Morocco and beat Tunisia by a lone goal making a total 3 goals scored before the #rd place match and 3 goals conceded.
Egypt lost 0-1 to Morocco in the semifinal; struggled past Ghana 5-4 on penalty kicks after 2-2 at full time; pied Tanzania by a lone goal at the group games; drew 0-0 with Zambia and lost massively 1-4 to Sierra Leone scoring a total 4 goals and conceding 7. Nigeria and Egypt before today’s match play 7 times of which Nigeria won 3 times scoring 8 of the 15 goals scored, Egypt won twice scoring 7 goals.
On 24th January 2007 Egypt and Nigeria played 1-1at AFCON; also Nigeria went away with 2-0 win on 19th January 2009 in AFCON while two friendly matches were played on 25th July 2009 that ended 1-1 and Egypt won the other friendly match of 11th March 2011 by 2-1; She won the AFCON match of 26th March 2013 bt 2-0; Nigeria won the AFCON match of 22nd February 2023 by a lone goal and their last meeting was a friendly game of 22nd March 2025 which Nigeria won 2-1.
Egypt won the title four times in 1981, 1991,2003 and 2013; won Silver once in 2005; Bronze thrice in 1993, 2001 and 2011 with no 4th placing.
Nigeria won the title 7 times; had two Siler medals; had 4 Bronze medals and placed 4th once.
The final match for Gold between South Africa and Morocco comes up in few hours at the Cairo International Stadium.
All the semifinalists, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa will represent Africa at the world cup in Chile.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#CAF #NFF #MFA #SAFA #EFF.
