The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday night at the Cairo International Stadium resoundingly established soccer supremacy over the hosts Young Pharaoh of Egypt by a lone goal to put a broad smile on about 200 Nigerians almost buckling under the yoke of Presidential elections just 72 hours away
Defender Solomon Agbalaka gave a perfect header in the 71st minute from Aminu Mohammed’s corner kick that dazed the U20 bench of the Pharaohs. They fought like wounded Lions but the Nigerians stood their ground after a miserable first half for the Flying Eagles. Kudos to the new Nigerian goal tender, Chijioke Aniagboso, who saved four close range shots.
Nigeria and Egypt had been soccer adversaries both at junior and senior levels over the years. They met six times earlier with Nigeria clinching 3 wins, one draw and two loses. In a two legged encounter in 1987, Nigeria won 4-0 in Lagos but lost 1-2 in Cairo; at the Republic of Benin meeting in 2005 Egypt slumped 0-2; there was 1-1 draw at the group B match in 2007; in 2009 Nigeria won 2-0 but at the semifinal in 2013 Egyptian Pharaohs ran away with 2-0 victory.
Egypt chalked most of the statistics in the first half with 58-42% ball possession; 8-2 corner kicks which the Nigerian defence diffused with clinical accuracy though the Nigerian attackers were not accurate in shooting and cut offside six times to the Egyptian one time attempt.
As it stands, Senegal heads Group A with 6 points and 4 goals for; Nigeria is second with 3 points and zero goal advantage; Egypt is third with one point and -1 goal difference while Mozambique is at the bottom with one point but -4 goals deficit.
Three teams may qualify from a group. The first and second are guaranteed slots in the quarter final but only two best losers will advance in the three groups.
On Saturday, Nigerians may be distracted from monitoring their votes as their team will face Mozambique while Senegal will meet Egypt at the matches that will be played simultaneously at 1800 hours. Nigeria need a clear win over Mozambique which appears easy as that team looks like the whipping team of the group but Egypt will need at least a draw from already qualified Senegal that has two wins from two matches.
Tomorrow Thursday, Central African Republic will play South Sudan at 1500 hours for the first match in the second round of Group B and at 1800 Congo will play Uganda.
Eniola Olatunji reporting.
CAFU20Egypt2023.
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