Golden Eaglets’ second-half
substitute, Suleiman Abdullahi
cancelled Benin’s Adaomu Nassiru
early minute lead and a winner did
not emerge in regulation and
extra time Golden Eaglets started
the game without injured
midfielder Kingsley Michael who
was replaced by Dayo Femi. But as
early as the second minute, Femi
was punished for ball-watching
when fleet-footed Nassiru ghosted
past him to score the opening goal
of the match.
Few minutes later, it was the turn
of the Eaglets on the other end
when Joshua Auta nearly grabbed
the equaliser but his shot was
cuddled by the Benin’s
goalkeeper. The Nigerians were
undeterred despite good
possession of the ball by the
Beninois and about a quarter of an
hour, Orji Okonkwo latched on to
a through pass from Kehinde
Ayinde. The languid striker out-
paced two defenders and shot
straight into the net but his joy of
grabbing an equalizer was short-
lived by Nigerian referee, Lalidia
Souleymane who ruled otherwise.
Jack Ipalibo also went close in the
37th minute when he drove
through the pack but saw his pile
driver missing the target. Towards
the end of the first half, it was the
Nigerians who were on the
receiving end and were twice
saved by the bar in the 42nd and
4th minute.
In the second half, Coach
Emmanuel Amuneke brought in
Suleiman Abdullahi for Dayo and
his inclusion brought some order
to the Nigerian midfield. The
Golden Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi
Nwakali was hacked down in the
box in the 63rd minute but
referee Souleymane did not call
for any infringement. But
Abdullahi finally got the equalizer
for the Eaglets in the 68th minute
when he scrambled the ball into
the net off a corner kick.
The match could not produce a
winner even after 30 minutes of
extra-time and the Beninois
triumphed in the ensuing penalty
shootout; the Golden Eaglets
would now face the loser of the
second semi-final match between
Mali and hosts, Togo on Sunday.
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