Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles’ coach, Paul Osahon Aigbogun has outlined a new method of approach and strategy to help his side overcome Mali at the Africa Games, as he remembers how the same opponent stopped his boys in the semi-finals of this year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger Republic, megasportsarena.com reports.
Heading into Tuesday’s semi-final fixture in Rabat, Morocco, Aigbogun believes pressing from the front will help Nigeria overcome the Malian jinx, as the Francophone West Africans have an edge dating back to when they beat Tunde Disu’s under-20 squad on home soil in Kaduna during the 1999 World Youth Championship (WYC).
It will be a renewal of long-held rivalry, as the Flying Eagles aim to edge Mali to reach the gold medal match in Morocco, where they intend to get payback against the team that prevailed 4-3 over them on penalties after scores after regulation time stood at 1-1 in Niamey.
Aigbogun’s side advanced to the semi-finals after they finished second in Group A behind Burkina Faso, following a 2-2 draw with the host nation, Morocco in their third group game, while Mali won Group B after they beat fellow-West Africans Ghana 4-2 to set up the clash with Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles will now aim to make history for Nigeria, who won the first ever football gold of the Games on home soil in 1973, but could not repeat the feat as hosts again at Abuja 2003.
The odds, though, are dangling against Aigbogun’s side, after their shaky form in their draw with Morocco, as his came very close to losing Friday’s match against the hosts at FAR Sports Complex Rabat.
The Flying Eagles fell behind after Morocco profited from some slack defending to allow Mohsinne Abba to head home the opener in the 12th minute.
Morroco looked the better side for much of the first half but Nigeria came back strongly towards the close of the first period and were duly rewarded when Ahmad Ghali was brought down in the box.
Flying Eagles’ captain, Ibrahim Abubakar stepped forwarded and slotted home the spot kick at the second time of asking, after the Moroccan goalkeeper saved his initial effort.
The first half ended 1-1 but Morocco were soon back in the saddle from another spot kick as the referee ruled that Habibu Yakubu had handled in the box, but the hosts scored to lead 2-1 after 72 minutes as Nigeria faced elimination.
Aigbogun threw on lanky striker Chinonso Emeka and it proved a good decision, as the striker scored with just a minute left of regulation time to put Nigeria through to the last four.
The result meant the Flying Eagles garnered five points from three games behind Burkina Faso who topped the group, and ahead of Morocco and South Africa.
