U20 AFCON Nigeria 1 Egypt 0 : Agbalaka's bullet header seals precious win for Flying Eagles

Nigeria's Flying Eagles on Wednesday renewed their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia with a 1-0 win over hosts Egypt in their second game of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Solomon Agbalaka scored the decisive goal within 20 minutes left to play with a bullet header from a corner kick. 

The Egyptians began the game as the more purposeful side but the Flying Eagles eventually created few goal scoring chances but were not able to convert them. 

The Flying Eagles' tactics morphed from playing over the top of the Egyptians' midfield to finding the spaces in-between the lines. 

Before the halftime break, Ayuba Abubakar had the glorious chance to find the back of the Egyptian goal after captain Daniel Bameyi desperately carried the ball out of the Nigerian half and found him. 

The striker dummied an Egyptian defender rather than hitting the ball at the first time of asking and saw the ball eventually cleared. 

In the 50th minute, Benjamin Frederick required medical attention after th ball hit his face off the boots of Bilal Mahzar who went past Nigerian captain, Bamayi, with a neat dribble before unleashing the shot. 

Seven minutes into the second half, Agbalaka darted into Egypt's 18-yard box but his cutback pass into the area was cleared for a corner kick. 

Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Chijioke Aniagboso made a string of fantastic saves to deny the young Pharaoh's the chance to get back into the game. 

Agbalaka then scored from a textbook header while the Egyptians fought vigorously to find an equaliser. 

Substitute, Emmanuel Uchegbu missed an opportunity to double the lead when he hesitated in hitting a first time shot inside the opposition box. 

 The seven-time African champions in the U-20 category will face Mozambique in their last group game with a draw or win good enough to take them to the quarterfinals stage. 

Izuchukwu Michael

Photo Credit : ffilgoal.com

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com