Golden Eaglets are through to the final of the 2013 CAN
Under-17 Championship after burying the ghost of Tunisia in a 4-2 win in an
otherwise tense semi-final match at Stade de Marrakech on Wednesday to set up
an all West – African derby against Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday.
Cote
d’Ivoire, who beat hosts Morocco 2-1 in the first semis on Tuesday, had earlier
inflicted a 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their Group B match and it remains to be
seen what would happen in three days time.
However, goals by Kelechi Iheanacho, Success Isaac and a brace by Musa Yahaya were enough to kill off the resilient Tunisians in a dramatic game under the searing sun in Marrakech.
However, goals by Kelechi Iheanacho, Success Isaac and a brace by Musa Yahaya were enough to kill off the resilient Tunisians in a dramatic game under the searing sun in Marrakech.
Nigeria
started well with three well-taken goals under the first 20 minutes. Iheanacho
scored the curtain raiser as early as the second minute for his fifth goal of
the tournament when he slotted the ball behind Ben Hamza in goal for Tunisia.
Yahaya scored the second goal in the 11th minute when he drove the ball into the net following a swift exchange from Iheanacho. Twenty minutes into the match, Success added another goal when he pushed in a loose ball following a corner kick from Chidiebere Nwakali.
Yahaya scored the second goal in the 11th minute when he drove the ball into the net following a swift exchange from Iheanacho. Twenty minutes into the match, Success added another goal when he pushed in a loose ball following a corner kick from Chidiebere Nwakali.
“We are very happy to qualify for the
final because our aim was to come here and win this trophy and make Nigerians
happy," Chidera Ezeh said at the post match conference.
"We are happy to be in the final
and as usual, we would be waiting for instructions from our coaches to play
against Cote d'Ivoire in the final."
Coach Manu Garba (MFR) in his
characteristic manner gave thanks to God for helping the team reached the final
stage of the championship even as he promised the Ivorians a tougher game.
“The final match against Cote
d'Ivoire on Saturday is going to be a different ball game because we were
unlucky when they beat us 1-0 in the group stage," he said.
"We are going to play a better
game because we now know them better."
Tunisian
coach Ben Soltane Abdelhay equally admitted that it was a difficult game for
both teams albeit admitted that the Nigerians were stronger and deserved their
place in the final.
“It was a tough match for us because Nigeria was stronger physically," he said.
“It was a tough match for us because Nigeria was stronger physically," he said.
"The temperature affected us too
but that is not taking anything away from Nigeria."
Saturday's final between Nigeria and
Cote d'Ivoire will be the first at this level but it will be Nigeria's fourth
final appearance. The Golden Eaglets conquered the continent twice in 2001 and
2007 but were unsuccessful in 1995.
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