In a matter of three days, the Flying Eagles have frittered away the golden opportunity of reaching finals in the ongoing 2019 U-20 African Cup competition.
On Wednesday, Flying Eagles were defeated by Mali 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in their semi-final match of the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade General Seyni Kountche on Wednesday.
Again on Saturday, the seven-time African champion again lost 5-3 on penalty shoot–out after 1-1 draw at full time watching as South Africa’s Amajita carted the bronze medals of the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Niamey.
The Saturday’s soccer encounter was explosive. Failure to put away a number of opportunities that came their way proved fatal for the seven –time champions, who endured the humiliation of finishing outside the medals’ range at the tournament for the first time.
Peter Eletu, who was starting for the first time as the Nigerian camp tried to lift the morale of the boys following Wednesday’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Mali in the semi-finals, fluffed what was a good opportunity in the 32nd minute when the ball fell invitingly to him just outside the Amajita’s 18–yard box during an onslaught.
He instead hooked the ball listlessly over the bar.
The unflattering features of poor passes, aimless shots and pathetic lack of marksmanship that saw the Flying Eagles end up with the wrong end of the stick on Wednesday were again in full flow, and the encounter was a stinging reminder of the fact that Aigbogun and his assistants have to re-jig the squad before the World Cup finals in Poland in three months’ time.
Alhassan Adamu, who scored the goal against host nation Niger Republic that made the Flying Eagles finish at the top of Group A and earn a place at the World Cup, fluffed Nigeria’s first kick in the shoot –out, following a dismal show by both teams in regulation time.
South Africa scored all their kicks to pocket the bronze medal and of course the bragging rights after both teams finished their Group A clash scoreless on Match day 2.
The competition comes to an end on Sunday, as the impressive Lionceau du Teranga lock horns with Mali’s Junior Eagles in the final match.
