By Daily Sports on February 14, 2019
Flying Eagles will not win an eighth U-20 AFCON crown in Niger after they lost 3-4 on penalties to Mali in Wednesday’s semifinal. Both teams were tied on 1-1 after extra-time. Valentine Uzornwafor and Okon Aniekeme lost their penalties in the shootout for Mali to go through to only their second final of this U20 championship. It was a sweet revenge for the Malians who had lost to Nigeria in the semifinal of the U20 WAFU Cup in Togo in December.
The Flying Eagles will now play the losers’ final on Saturday.
Mali opened scoring in the 78th minute when Mali sliced through the Flying Eagles defence to release Mamadou Troare who fired past a stranded goalkeeper Olawale Oremade.
However, Nigeria drew level four minutes from time when substitute Pascal Durugbor thundered home a loose ball inside the box past Mali goalkeeper Koita.
The Flying Eagles started brightly, before Mali gradually warmed up into the game to make it more of a contest.
The speed and skills of the Nigerians were canceled out by the physicality of the bigger-looking Malians.
There were no real chances by either side in extra time, before the lottery of the penalty shootout. (Vanguard)
•Photo shows Flying Eagles players
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 14, 2019
You may also like...
Premier League Threatened With Legal Action Over Relegation...
EURO 2016 - Germany, Poland wins
Ahmed Musa fires first Premier League goal
Nigerian left-back bags two assists as Arsenal win...
Five Men To Watch At The Australian Open...
Bale Sent Off after Scoring Twice in Real...

Gusau: Resignation Isn't Enough, Where's N17 B FG Grant?
NOC Set To Host IOC/BFN Badminton Technical Coaching Course Level 2 In Abuja
Martins faces backlash over Seyi Tinubu NFF endorsement
Chelle gets U-23 Eagles assistant coaches
EKO 2026 to drive school sports development – LOC
Aduku declares Falconets ready for U-20 World Cup
Adeniji crowned best boxer at LBHF Ikorodu
LSGA champions inclusion with Leadership Cup
Ndidi makes entrepreneurial debut with DIIDS launch
Messi legacy will live forever, says Beckham
D’Tigers World Cup dream still alive – Fizdale
Stakeholders call for local reforms in Nigerian football
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,070 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,428 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,313 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,913 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,793 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,669 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,576 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,087 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,278 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,752 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,236 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,621 views)