Defending champion, Nigeria on Thursday reached their second consecutive final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a thrilling 4-2 victory against Mexico in Concepcion to set-up final with West Africa neighbours, Mali on Sunday.
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| Eaglets celebrating one of their goals |
Mexico took a deserved early lead through Kevin Magana but Coach Emmanuel Amuneke’s
boys hit back courtesy Captain Kelechi Nwakali
from a well-taken free-kick and an unstoppable
strike from Orji Okonkwo for a 2-1 halftime
lead.
The Nigerian side however started the second
half poorly and was soon pegged back after
Mexico’s right-back Diego Cortes scored
arguably the goal of the tournament as he
dribbled his way through the Nigerian half on
the hour mark before calmly slotting home.
Christian Ebere restored Nigeria’s advantage
seven minutes later before tournament’s
topscorer Victor Osimhen scored from the
penalty spot to secure his team’s place in the
final and also take his tally to nine goals to put
him alongside U-17 World Cup record goal-
scorers Florent Sinama-Pongolle (2001) and
Souleymane Coulibaly(2011).
Nigeria were undeterred by Cortes’s golazo and
struck back. Ebere found space on the Nigerian
right just inside the Mexican penalty area after
a long through ball. His right-footed effort was
too strong for Romero, who got a hand to the
strike but could not keep it out.
John Lazarus was taken down in the Mexican
penalty area, giving Osimhen the chance to
score his ninth goal of Chile 2015 and go level
at the top of the all-time U-17 World Cup
goalscoring charts. He slotted home with ease,
adding gloss to the Golden Eaglets victory.
Nigeria head to Vina Del Mar on Sunday for an
all-African final against continental champions
Mali while Mexico will face off against Belgium
in the match for third place earlier the same
day.
Semi-final Results
1. Belgium 1-3 Mali
2. Nigeria 4-2 Mexico
3rd Place Match
Belgium vs. Mexico
Final
Nigeria vs. Mali
Congratulations to our boys
Credit: SR
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