Photo credit:- goal.com
Nigeria have qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics after
defeating hosts Senegal in the semi-final of the 2015 Africa
U23 Championship.
Etebo Oghenekaro’s penalty in the 75th minute was all the
Dream Team VI needed to ease past the hosts after
Ousseynou Thioune had handled the ball in his penalty area
to prevent Eyo Ebong from scoring.
Ibrahima Keita failed to put his side ahead in the first half
after seeing his penalty saved by man of the match
Emmanuel Daniel who guessed the right way.
With this victory, the Dream Team will now face the winner
between Algeria and South Africa for the 2015 Africa U23
title with the 2016 Olympics men’s football event ticket in
their kitty.
As in the first half, Nigeria weathered pressure and finished
stronger – Segun Oduduwa’s goal-line clearance and further
heroics from Daniel denying Ismaila Sarr, Keita and Samba
Ndiaye.
Parading four foreign based players in their starting XI
against Nigeria’s one [Junior Ajayi] , Serigne Saliou Dia’s
boys troubled the Dream Team VI who were without captain
Azubuike Okechukwu, Augustine Dimgba and Taiwo Awoniyi
.
Senegal’s pace and drive in attack left Dream Team VI
disorganised early on and when Sarr hacked over from El
Hadhi Pape’s 10th-minute pass, it marked a rare moment
of encouragement for Saliou Dia’s team.
Not too long, goalkeeper Daniel made a brilliant save after
denying AS Douanes Ibrahima Keita in a one-on-one
situation.
In the closing stages of the first half, the hosts were
awarded a questionable penalty after Cheikou Dieng fell
inexpensively to Daniel’s attempt to save his shot. The
resultant kick was saved with by the Nigerian goalie who
dived towards the right direction.
A drop in tempo early in the second half clearly suited
Nigeria, but Junior Ajayi could not capitalise when a patient
spell of possession sent a half-chance his way.
The CS Sfaxien forward was wasteful again in the 65th
minute having been teed up by the impressive Muhammed
Usman.
Nigeria got their only goal in the game when Etebo sent
goalkeeper Ndiaye the wrong way from the penalty mark
after Thioune had handled the ball intentionally – which got
him sent off.
Senegal’s defence became disjointed in the closing minutes
with Siasia’s team playing with great confidence.
No comments:
Post a Comment