U-17 World Cup: Nigeria beats Mali 2-0
…As highest goal scorer, Osimhen, heeds Buhari’s call to score for Nigeria
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NIGERIA: APPARENTLY heeding the call of President Muhammadu Buhari, the highest goal scorer of the Under-17 World Cup in Chile, Victor Osimhen, on Sunday scored the first goal in the two goals to nil against Mali for Nigeria to retain its world championship.
The Golden Eaglets, by this defeat, has defended its title won two years ago in United Arab Emirate in the Federation of International Football Association most junior World Cup.
Osimhen scored his 10th goal shortly on resumption of the second half after a goalless draw in the first half. His goal gave him the edge to become the highest goal scorer in the history of the most junior football World Cup.
Florent Sinama Pangolle (France) scored nine goals in 2001 and Souleymane Coulibaly (Cote D’Ivoire) equaled the feat in 2011 to record their names as the highest scorers of the biennial football cup.
“To top striker, Victor Osimhen, who has scored 9 goals so far, President Buhari said: ‘Strike like thunder tomorrow. I believe you will bring us victory,” the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted the President in his charge to the players before the final match which was played at the Estadio Sausalito Vina del Mar.
The Golden Eaglets, whose striker, Osinachi Ebere, missed a penalty in the early part of the first half, showed class on the resumption of the second half.
The aggressive move in the goal area of Mali paid them well when Osimhen scored his 10th goal in the early part of the second half with Funsho Bamgboye sealing the victory with another goal in the 59th minute.
The Malian boys struggled hard to score goals, just like their Nigerian lads but all efforts proved abortive until the end of the match.
The Golden Eaglets won the maiden edition of the World Cup in 1985 during the military regime of Buhari, and the Sunday’s victory followed earlier ones won in 1993, 2007 and 2013.
“In doing so, the Nigerians claimed the fifth U-17 World Cup crown, following on from their previous successes at China 1985, Japan 1993, Korea Republic 2007 and UAE 2013. In addition, they finished as runners-up at Canada 1987, Trinidad and Tobago 2001 and Nigeria 2009,” FIFA said on its website.
The President had on Saturday urged the Golden Eaglets to do all within their ambit to win the Under-17 World Cup for the fifth time.
He spoke with the team and their technical crew through a Skype call, Adesina said in a release.
“Your victory tomorrow will remind Nigerians of what happened in China 30 years ago, and it will raise the morale of Nigerians, especially the youths. We’re praying for you,” Buhari said, adding: “We are anxiously waiting to receive the cup. Please put us on the world map of soccer again.”
It would be recalled that the Nigerian young lads defeated Mexico four goals to two to qualify for the final against Mali, which defeated Belgium by three goals to one to qualify for the all Africans final.
Belgium beat Mexico three goals to two to place third, just as the Adidas Golden Ball of the championship was won by Kelechi Nwakali (Nigeria), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) and Ahly Malle (Mali), while the Adidas Golden Boot was awarded to Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Johannes Eggestein (Germany), and Kelechi Nwakali (Nigeria).
The Adidas Golden Glove went to Samuel Diarra (Mali), while Fair Play Award was won by Ecuador.
