Football
Guinea
and Nigeria battled out a scoreless 90 minutes in the first semi final of the
13th Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania, before a marathon penalty shoot-out
that ended when Ogaga Oduko heaved his effort sky-high to send the Junior Syli
Nationale into Sunday’s final.
Characteristically,
the Eaglets Class of 2019 fluffed gilt-edged opportunities that would have long
settled the encounter before the end of regulation time, and paid dearly in the
lottery of penalty kicks as they would be battling for the bronze instead of
the gold medals.
Forward
Wisdom Ubani should have done better with two opportunities in the first half,
but he delayed his decision each time and the chances went away. Guinea came
close through Bah Algassime and Toure Momo but also could not utilize the
openings.
Seven
minutes into the second half, Ubani fluffed another golden opportunity when it
appeared easier to put the ball in the net, and three minutes later, Fawaz
Abdullahi’s dipping shot flew narrowly over the sticks.
On
the hour, Algassime rocked goalkeeper Sunday Stephen’s upright from long range,
and Toure Alya came close in the 66th minute as he hit the bar from a corner.
In the 72nd minute, Ubani was clever to create an opening for himself, only to
waste the same.
Three
minutes later, with goalkeeper Camara Sekou wrong-footed, Ubani’s 25 –yard free
kick was deflected and kissed the crossbar. Fawaz Abdullahi and Ogaga Oduko had
chances later on, but the two teams would only be separated by sudden death
penalties.
Bangoura
Alya, Toure Alya, Conte Aboubacar, Bangoura Sekou, Keita Ahmed, Bangoura
Mahmoud, Bah Algassime, Fofana Ibrahima, Dado Ibrahima and Soumah Mohamed made
no mistake from the spot, while Nigeria’s Ogaga Oduko lost his kick after
Ibraheem Jabaar, David Ishaya, Olakunle Olusegun, Clement Ikenna, Olatomi
Olaniyan, Shedrack Tanko, Fawaz Abdullahi, Wisdom Ubani and Samson Tijani had
scored.
The
result means Nigeria, already with a ticket to the FIFA U17 World Cup finals
holding in Brazil later this year, will battle for the third place at this
tournament on Saturday.
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