Nigeria Content Online

The
Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday emerged champions of the 2011
African Youth Championship after a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Young
Lions of Cameroun.

It is the sixth time the Flying Eagles will be crowned champions of Africa and also their first AYC title since 2005.

Sunday’s win also means that the Nigerians head into July’s FIFA World Cup in Colombia as African champions.

The Nigerians
however, made things tough for themselves after squandering a two-goal
lead in the match which was played at the Dobsonville Stadium, in
Soweto.

With a quarter of
an hour left on the clock, Olanrewaju Kayode opened scoring for the
Flying Eagles with a shot from inside the Camerounian area following an
error from the Young Lions’ defence.

And when Uche
Nwofor converted from the penalty spot after Kayode was brought down by
Young Lions goalkeeper, Komguep Efala four minutes later, the Nigerians
probably thought they were home and dry.

Fightback

But with eight
minutes left on the clock, the Camerounians, like wounded lions, fought
back and pulled back two goals within the space of two minutes with
Franck Ohandza leading the fight back for his side.

The Thailand based
striker, who grabbed the only goal of the game when both sides met in
the group stage of the tournament, ran into the area and turned his
marker, Gbenga Arokoyo inside-out before slamming the ball off the
underside of Danjuma Paul’s crossbar.

Two minutes later,
Edgar Salli, brought the Young Lions back on level terms with the
Flying Eagles with an unstoppable drive from inside the Nigerian area
after some sloppy defending by Ganiyu Ogungbe, who uncharacteristically
headed the ball onto the path of the Camerounian forward.

The game then
drifted into extra time, but it was the Nigerians that were to have the
last laugh, when substitute Terry Envoh dribbled his way into the
Camerounian area in the second minute of extra time, to score what
turned out to be the match-winning goal.

It was a deserved victory for the Nigerians who were for the greater part of Sunday’s encounter the better side.

Kayode’s show

John Obuh’s side
also had far more chances than the Camerounians and came close to going
ahead in the 11th minute through Kayode. But the ASEC Mimosas of Cote
d’Ivoire youngster, following a cross from the right by Nwofor, headed
the ball onto the crossbar much to the delight of Efala who was rooted
to the spot.

And with two
minutes to the end of the first half, Kayode found some space in the
Camerounian area only to smash his shot onto the side netting with
Efala at his mercy.

The Camerounians
also had chances of their own and Salli proved more than a handful for
the Nigerian defence with his powerful runs and mazy dribbles. But the
Nigerians always looked the more likelier to score, and deservedly went
ahead in the 75th minute when Kayode latched onto an error by the
Camerounian defence, ran into the area before slamming the ball past an
onrushing Efala.

Four minutes later,
Efala was slow in coming off his line and brought Kayode down in the
area for a penalty, which Nwofor dispatched with ease to grab his
fourth goal of the tournament, and thus overtake South Africa’s Lucky
Nguzana on the scorers’ chart.

Then came two goals
in as many minutes by the Camerounians, before Terry Envoh, who took
the place of the injured Abduljeleel Ajagun on the dot of 90 minutes,
dribbled his way past the tiring Camerounian defence, before calmly
slotting the ball under the onrushing Efala for the cup-winning goal.

It wasn’t over yet
though as the Camerounians adopted a gung-ho approach and could had
pulled back on level terms once again but for impressive saves by the
Nigerian goalie.

Not even a 113th minute red card to Kayode for a second bookable
offence could deny the Nigerians a deserved victory as they now set
their sights on Colombia.