Nigeria’s Flying Eagles bowed out of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

byOkolie Silas Chukwuebuka -
0

Heartbreak for Nigeria as Senegal end Flying Eagles U-20 runs.

un 3, 2019 9:31 PM
Heartbreak for Nigeria as West African brothers Senegal end Flying Eagles U-20 run
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles bowed out of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland and a thrilling  2-1 defeat to fellow West African side, Senegal. A Success Makanjuola second half deflected goal was not enogh as Senegalese goals from Amadou Sagna and Niane meant the run for Paul Aigbogun’s side was over.

The Flying Eagles faced fellow West Africans Senegal in a round of 16 fixture at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland. The Nigerian side coached by Paul Aigbogun qualified for the second round of the tournament after an evenly balanced statistics of one win, one draw and one loss in the group stage.

Senegal on their own finished topped of Group A with seven points having won their first two games before a scoreless draw in their final group game against hosts Poland and were ranked favourites for the contest billed for the Lodz Stadium in Lodz.
Both sides met at the final of the inaugural West African Football Union (WAFU) UFOA B Under 20 tournament in Togo last December with the Junior Lions winning 2-0 against the Flying Eagles. The first goal in that game was scored by Amadou Sagna who has scored three goals so far in this U20WC tournament in Poland.
The game started in the cool afternoon in the Polish city of Lodz as Nigeria saw more of the ball in the opening stages. Tijani Muhammad did well in flicking Maxwell Effiom’s cross as the Flying Eagles looked to get ahead early in the game but the attempt landed on top of the post.
While Senegal tried to get ahead in the game, Nigeria suffered a massive blow. Maxwell Effiom got stretchered off after a bad challenge and it was not likely the 19-year old was going to continue, hence, an early substitution for Aigbogun as he brought on Collins Sor.
The tactical change would mean something for Nigeria as a breakaway with Okon central to it, moved through with doggedness before placing it on a plate for Sor. The midfielder one-on-one with the goalkeeper struck at goal but was twice denied by Dialy.

The miss would prove costly for Nigeria as Amadou Sagna three minutes later scored. The forward who set records in Senegal’s first game against Tahiti breezed through Rabiu and Salawudeen before calmly finishing beyond Oremade.

First half later turned into a nightmare for Nigeria as Ibrahima Niane with one minute of added time to go guided the ball home after a great teasing cross from the right for Senegal’s second of the game.
Aigbogun’s half time pep talk seemed to be vital as Nigeria came back fighting hard in the second half and scored in 50th minute. Makanjuola’s free kick effort got deflected home by Aniekeme Okon to give the side hope of an African derby comeback.
Things however got bad for coach Aigbogun tactically as another injury meant another forced substitution for Nigeria. Kingsley Michael limping off to be replaced by Prince Eletu. The substistions didn’t mean much as Nigeria still got knocked out after eventually losing 2-1.


Senegal now advance to the quarter finals of the competition to face the winner of tomorrow’s round of 16 Asian derby clash between Japan  U-20 vs South Korea U-20 while Aigbogun and the the Flying Eagles head back to Nigeria.
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