21st April, 2011
Nigeria’s archrivals, Cameroon’s Junior Lions, this afternoon defeated Nigeria’s U-20 team, Flying Eagles 1-0 at the 2011 African Youth Championship, AYC, Group B match. The Nigeria team were unable to break the jinx of Cameroon’s dominance in continental football.
The match was played at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, South Africa. Following the loss, the Nigerian team must win their last group match against Gambia to qualify for the semi final and Colombia 2011 FIFA World Youth Championship, WYC.
The Nigerian side were a shadow of themselves as they struggle for ball possession, their passes were also not accurate.
Nigeria, who defeated reigning champions, Ghana 2-1 on Monday, started the game without their star player, Ahmed Musa, who has returned to The Netherlands for this weekend’s club matches with VVV Venlo.
The match started on a low, with both teams playing with caution but the Cameroonians played better than their Nigerian counterparts, who couldn’t get the passes to their teammates. It was a dingdong affair between both sides with most of the action taking place in the Nigerian half.
Several incursions were made into the Nigerian vital area and the coach John Obuh-tutored side would have goalkeeper Dami Paul to thank, as he denied the Cameroonians the opportunity to open scoring early.
Nigeria’s Ganiu Ogungbe was the first to be booked after he fouled Edgar Salli of Cameroon. Both teams at different points had the ball in the back of the net, but they were ruled out by the centre referee, Mohammed Benouza of Algeria, who missed out from the South Africa 2010 World Cup after failing a fitness test.
The Nigerian side had the majority of the players in their half and were always looking for a counter attack to score, but the Cameroonians contained them.
But on the stroke of half time, Franck Ohandza of Cameroon received a pass, turned around Gbenga Arokoyo inside the 18 yard box and took a shot that beat the Nigerian goalkeeper, Paul to score the only goal of the match.
Despite their poor approach to the game in the first half, the Nigerians didn’t show any sense of urgency. The Cameroonians would have increased the tally but for the heroics of the pintsized Nigerian goalkeeper, who denied them of the litany of chances created.
Meanwhile, a minute of silence was observed for Adefemi Olubayo, a Nigerian international who died in a car crash this week.
—Adebobola Alawode