WAFU Cup: Golden Eaglets Beat Mali Again

Super Eagles fans

National team supporters

National team supporters
National team supporters

The Golden Eaglets on Wednesday confirmed their supremacy over Mali with a comfortable 2-0 win at the ongoing WAFU B Tournament in Togo.

Two goals in the second half by Orji Okonkwo and Kehinde Ayinde cemented the Golden Eaglets top-place finish in Group B with maximum six points, having won 2-0 against their West African foes on Monday.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke kept faith with his previous starting line-up while Mali’s notable change was goalkeeper Samuel Diarra who replaced Traore Alou.

But it was the Malians that started on the offensive after Togolese referee Kossi Azaleko signalled Nigeria to take the kick-off.

In the third minute, the Malians nearly went in front but were denied by brilliant Amos Benjamin in goal for the Golden Eaglets.

The Nigerian youngsters responded well as Kehinde Ayinde and
Kingsley Michael buried the ball behind goalkeeper Suleiman in the 15th and 26thth minute respectively but referee Azaleko ruled both goals off-side. He also cancelled an off-side goal by the Malians in the 18th minute.

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Azaleko was jeered by the fans towards the end of the first half for disallowing what looked like a legitimate goal for the Golden Eaglets orchestrated from a sweet passing movement by the quartet of Orji Okonkwo; Ayinde; Dauda Ganiyu and Jack Ipalibo.

But the stadium finally came alive in the second half, when the Eaglets were rewarded for their resilience. Ayinde sent a perfect cross to Okonkwo who nodded home the first goal in the 48th minute.

The goal gave the Eaglets the much needed vigor to hold on and win the tie despite occasional threats by the Malians.

Although the Eaglets dominated the game, the second goal of the match did not come until the 84th minute. Man of the match, Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi Nwakali sent a long range pass to Abdulganiyu who side-stepped two opposing defenders before releasing the ball for Ayinde to slot home.

The Golden Eaglets would now face the runners up of Group A in one of the semi-finals on Thursday.

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