By Adeyinka Akintunde, Lagos on November 6, 2015

Nigeria and Mali will contest for the Chile 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup crown in Vina Del Mar on Sunday.                                               

Nigeria this morning powered into the final after overcoming an early Mexican scare. Mexico initially controlled the game perfectly well, but the Emmanuel Amuneke boys grew with time and took the game away from the North Americans.

The defending champions conceded an eighth minute goal from Kevin Magana, but Skipper Kelechi Nwakali evened scores in the 33rd minute, and Orji Okonkwo put Nigeria ahead ten minutes later.

Diego Coartes’ remarkable solo effort 59th minute levelled matters before Osinachi Ebere restored Nigeria’s lead in the 67th minute and hot shot Victor Osimhen put victory beyond doubt in the 82nd minute after tucking in a penalty awarded following a clumsy push by a Mexican defender.                               

By that goal, Osimhen equalled the record of scoring nine goals in one U-17 competition set by Florent Sinima Pongolle of France in 2001 and replicated by Souleymane Coulibaley of Cote d’Ivoire in 2011.

Mali had earlier beaten Belgium 3-1 to advance to the final courtesy of goals from Boubacar Trade, Sidiki Maiga and Sekou Keita in response to Belgium’s earlier goal from Dante Rigo. This will be the second all-African FIFA U-17 World Cup final after the Nigeria vs Ghana clash in Japan in 1993.

•Photo shows Golden Eaglets’ Samuel Chukwueze up against Diego Cortes (L) of Mexico in this morning’s Under-17 World Cup semi-final clash in Chile.

Source News Express

Posted November 6, 2015

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