Flying Eagles Player Ratings Vs Mali : High Marks For Utin, Muhammad; Ogbu, Effiom Catch The Eye; Nazifi Not At His Best

The Flying Eagles will not contest the U20 AFCON showpiece after they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Mali on Wednesday evening.

Goalkeeper:

Orewale Oremade: Was well beaten by Mamadou Traore's opener. Denied Boubacar Traore with a good save in the penalty shootout. 7/10

Defenders

Ikouwem Utin: Looked lively throughout the encounter and particularly stood out offensively. Put in a lot of crosses which went begging and looked to combine with the attackers. Converted his spot kick. 8.5/10

Valentine Ozornwafor: Solid enough display from Ozornwafor. Was an aerial presence on both sides of the pitch in the game. Fluffed his lines from 12 yards out in the penalty shoot out though.6/10

Igor Ogbu: Put little foot wrong as they tried keeping Hadji Drame and Co. on the fringes for much of the encounter. 7/10

Mike Zaruma: Looked to always instigate attacks through the left wing. Crosses were few and far between though. 7/10

Midfielders

Jamil Muhammad: The tireless Jamil was adept at stopping the Malian attacks as also bombing forward to help put pressure on the opposition. Laid on the equalising goal for Onyekachi. Buried his spot kick. 8.5/10

Aniekeme Okon: Had a few bright moments particularly in the first half but lacked enough to unlock the rivals rigid midfield. Hit the upright with his kick thereafter. 6/10

Adamu Alhassan: Worked his socks off trying to pull strings in the midfield. Had a few chances to score which were snuffed out. Picked up a yellow for a bad foul in extra time. 6.5/10

Aliyu Ibrahim: Stung Koita's palms with a couple of shots and looked a constant goal threat for much of his adventure on the pitch. 6.5/10

Strikers

Ibrahim Aboubakar: Came up against a well drilled backline and was left with much to do. 6/10

Yahaya Nazifi: Didn't have the best of outings as he was well shackled by the Malian defense. Tried a few headers which failed to come off before coming off for Paschal Onyekachi in the second half. 6.5/10

The Substitutes

Paschal Durugbor: Looked pretty impressive after coming and got into some good goalscoring positions. Crashed in an equaliser for his team four minutes from stoppage time. 8/10

Maxwell Effiom: Another impressive substitution in the second period. Lofted in some good balls as the team pushed for a goal and was really another threat in extra time. Swept home a great penalty in the shoot out. 8/10

Adeshina Gata: Got straight into the thick of things after coming on for Aliyu in the second half. Came close to grabbing a winner in the closing stages but was agonizingly denied by goalkeeper Koita. 7/10

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : cafonline.com