…To meet Runners up of Group C at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Thursday 11th May at 2000 hours in the Quarters.
Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on Saturday survived a colossal soccer embarrassment coming from behind to peck the Amajimbos of South Africa to submission 3-2 in a breathe taking encounter at the Stade Mohammed Hamlaoui, Constantine.
Nigeria faced an opening shock 6th minutes of play when Vicky Mkhawana scored from a corner kick that was headed into the Nigerian vital area but an attempted clearance went straight into the lurking Mkhawana, the guy who buried Zambia with two important goals in the 3-2 only win for South Africa in the tournament.
It was a disturbing goal for Nigeria that had conceded a 2nd minute goal against Morocco in their 2nd match on the 3rd of May. Nigeria raided the Amajimbo defence for goals but the defenders of the Nelson Mandela country were as stubborn as illiterate goats according to Nobel Laurrette, Wole Soyinka which made the first ever player to lift the world U17 trophy in China, Nduka Ugbade now the coach restless turning to his bench to mark probably the iniquities of his boys.
Then came a cross from the right flank which Adah Agada brilliantly headed in for the equalizer and the Nigerian fans sang with a vociferous voice until the 45+3 minute when danger boy Mkhawana pass found Siyabonga Mabena who dribbled two Nigerian defenders , released a stormy petrel shot known with Alloy Atuegbu of Enugu Rangers and then Green Eagles that blows off the cross bar. Mabena’s shot hit the cross bar and landed beyond the goal line for South Africa’s goal number 2. Half time came.
Hardly had the players got grip that the second half had started when Light Chijioke Eke who South Africa will not forget quickly as ‘enfant terrible’ collected a pass from Adah Agada for a much expected equalizer and the fans sang the common, “O se, O se o, O se Baba”, a song tanking God in Yoruba language.
Substitute E. Michael found no 8 shirt, Idris Abdullahi in the 64th minute who scored the winner that sagged the hopes of the Amajimbos to win the night. .
Played out in the match was a prominent player for South Africa is Michael Dokunmu who was born at Kimberley, South Africa to a Nigerian father and South African mother but plays in Holland with the Youth team Vitese. He is eligible to play for South Africa and Nigeria but he chose South Africa as he said, “It’s my place of birth”. He could still play for Nigeria if he does not play for the Bayana Bayana senior team of South Africa. He is a star boy for South Africa.
Although Nigeria and South Africa are regular customers at other team levels including the female teams, the U17 squads have never met before.
Nigeria has won the FIFA world Cup record five times including being the first country to lift the trophy at Beijin 85 in China beating Germany 2-0 Other great moments were winning the FIFA trophy in 1993; 2007; 2013 and 2015.
It has only won the African edition at this group twice, in Seychelles bashing Burkina Faso 3-0 and 2007 in Togo beating hosts Togo 1-0 AET. Nigeria won Silver twice in 1995 losing 1-3 to Ethiopia and at Morocco in 2013 losing to Ivory Coast 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 at full time. Won Bronze in 2003 in Swaziland beating Egypt 3-1. Nigeria placed 4th twice in 2015 in Niger Republic losing 1-3 to Guinea and at the last competition in Tanzania losing 1-2 to Angola at the Losers’ matches.
In the three appearances of South Africa, their best performance was emerging as Silver medal winner at Niger Republic losing 0-2 to Mali in the finals; placed 4th in 2005 at Gambia losing 0-1 to Ivory Coast and in 2007 the South Africans lost at the group stage.
For your memories, Nigeria defeated Zambia 1-0 and Morocco beat South Africa on 30th April while Nigeria lost 0-1 to Morocco and South Africa suppressed fellow COSAFA team 3-0 on 3rd May.
Nigeria lost the first place on Group B table by whiskers to Morocco clocking 6 points like Morocco but Morocco scored 4 goals like Nigeria and conceded just two goals while Nigeria conceded 3 goals – a painful goals difference. South Africa came 3rd on the table with 3 points like Zambia scoring 5 goals and conceding 7 and Zambia will leave Algeria being at the bottom scoring 4 goals and conceding 5.
On Sunday at 2000 hours Mali will be watching Burkina Faso slug it out with the Cub Lions of Cameroon in Group C as Southern Sudan which should have played the Malians has been disqualified.
Already the fixtures for the quarterfinals are taking shape.
Senegal will meet the team from group B or C on the 10th of May at Constantine; Morocco will line up against hosts Algeria at Anaba on 11th May at 2000 hours; Mali will meet Congo at Algiers on 11th May at 1700 hours and Nigeria will slug it out with Group C Runners up at Algiers on 11th May at 2000 hours.
.Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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