24th August, 2014
Nigeria’s Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets, on Saturday wrought another win courtesy of a first half strike by winger Promise Orji against Kaduna-based Ace Football Club at the Abraham Ordia Stadium inside the University of Calabar.
“Maybe we would have even played better than we did against the Golden Eaglets today,” said Ace FC’s Coach Al-Amin Ibn-Musa.
“We didn’t arrive Calabar until the early hours of the day but that should not take anything away from the victory of the Golden Eaglets because they played a good match against us.”
The early exchange between both team was cautious as they sized each other up but it was Ace FC that nearly took the lead after Uzama Douglas conceded a free kick in front of the Golden Eaglets’ goal area in the 10th minute.
But goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokeocha making only his second starting appearance held firmly to Shefiu Dauda’s free kick.
Then in the 39th minute, Eaglets’ midfielder, Jack Ipalibo finally came out of his shell by snaking his way through the left flank before slicing a cross to Orji, who cleverly evaded on rushing Ace’s defender, Christopher Nwaeze, before hitting the ball behind goalkeeper Nurudeen Mudashir.
Thereafter, both teams created very little chances but when the chance came for the Kaduna-based team, Nwokeocha’s agility denied them an opportunity to equalise. Nwokoecha deflected a goal-bound shot from Nwaze and equally did a yeoman’s job in the 85th minute when he punched away a blind header by Peter Obochi.
Yet unimpressed with the team’s overall performance, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke gave his wards the ‘hairdryer’ treatment by asking them to gird their loins in the days ahead.
“We don’t need to remind you every time that this is a national team and there is a certain standard expected from us but I’m not impressed with your performance today.
“Of course, we are constantly evaluating ourselves with this sort of matches and we must continue to show why we are in the national team with better performance always,” said the former African Footballer of the Year.