NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau tasks Soaring Flying Eagles
By Rasheed Adewuyi
An ecstatic President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Wednesday night tasked Nigeria’s U-20 football side, the Flying Eagles, to go for all the three points on offer against Brazil in their final group game at the FIFA U20 World Cup to maintain their winning momentum.
The NFF president spoke minutes after the two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medallists stunned Italy 2-0 in Mendoza to soar to the top of Group D at the ongoing global fiesta in Argentina, with a commanding performance that left the Italians and their thousands of supporters flustered and crest-fallen at the Estadio Malvinas Argentina.
Pre-game, the bookmakers all had the encounter in favor of the Italians, who overran Brazil with three goals in an emphatic first 45 minutes foray on Sunday, before the South Americans reduced the tally by two in the second period.
Against the Flying Eagles, the pacy Italians were easy contained and many simply watched on as the Nigerians dominated several sectors of the pitch, with two well-taken second half goals by Salim Fago Lawal and Jude Sunday, saying just as much for what the African flagbearers deserved on the night.
“I want you to celebrate but to quickly put this behind you and focus on the game against Brazil. Nigerians are proud of what you have achieved in qualifying for the knockout stages after only two matches. But, we must sustain the winning mentality, so we have to go for victory against the Brazilians on Saturday, Gusau said.
“Once the winning mentality is sustained, we can go all the way.”
From the very first minute, the Flying Eagles left no one in doubt that they were on the pitch for business, with Salim Fago Lawal turning and shooting inside the box, but the goalkeeper had it covered.
Italy’s Tommaso Baldanzi, who dazzled against Brazil, saw his shot fly over goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso’s sticks in the 4th minute, and another one went far away six minutes later. Daniel Daga tried his luck at the other end, but the Italians rocked the Nigeria crossbar in the 20th minute after a flowing move orchestrated by Baldanzi.
Daniel Bameyi and Fago Lawal then got behind the Italian defense but the first half still ended scoreless.
On resumption, Italy broke forward, but Abel Ogwuche, excellent at the heart of defense, botched their efforts, and Bameyi would again rattle goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches in the 48th minute.
In the 62nd minute, a resilient Tochukwu Nnadi fought his way through the opposition defense and after spritely rising from his fall, managed to spin a a timed-pass across to Fago Lawal, who headed the ball beautifully into the net for Nigeria’s first goal.
Italy came close in the 84th minute with a flowing move, but substitute Daniele Montevago could not make it count. At the other end, Jude Sunday latched onto a long assist thrust from goalkeeper Aniagboso that he allowed to bounce beautifully ahead to score Nigeria’s second goal with a well-taken shot, well into added time.
Victory means the Flying Eagles have qualified for the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, ahead of their clash with Brazil in La Plata on Saturday afternoon.
