NPFL All-Stars fall at Future Champs News

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NPFL All-Stars fall at Future Champs

By Daily Sports on March 26, 2017

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Under-17 All-Stars suffered their first defeat at the Future Champions Gauteng, and at the crucial time in the final on Saturday, when they lost 1-2 to Atletico Madrid.

Kano Pillars striker Nazifi Yahaya scored in the second half to level matters at 1-1 after Alberto Salido had given the Spanish club the lead. Adrian Luque scored late to hand Atletico their second back-to-back Future Champions title.

The NPFL All-Stars head coach, Austine Eguavoen, made just one change to the side that won the semifinals against Bidvest Wits by starting Tari Joseph in the absence of 3SC’s Rafiu Ishaq.

Atletico captain Rodrigo Riquelme, Alvaro Chumilla, Nicolas Garcia and Alberto Salido caused the Nigerian side problems with their passing play.

The NPFL All-Stars were limited to huffing long balls forward, targeting the pacy Mustapha Musa and Nazifi.

On 22 minutes, Riquelme’s patience on the ball allowed Salido to peel off his marker to head away an inch-perfect cross into the All-Stars’ box for Atletico’s opening goal.

Riquelme’s command of the game from the left channel was immaculate. He nearly doubled his team’s lead but his curling cross-shot bounced off the crossbar with NPFL All-Stars goalkeeper Mohammed Galadima rooted to the spot as that proved to be last real chance of the first half of 30 minutes.

Ebuka Nwenyi and Musa had chances to put the All-Stars level without success. Musa’s chance was from close range after Nazifi’s overhead kick fell kindly to him, but the Kano Pillars winger dragged his effort across the post with just Atleti goalkeeper Jose Saldana to beat.

Nazifi then equalised from the spot for the All-Stars on 48 minutes after Saldana tugged his shirt in the box, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded against the Spanish club.

Five minutes to full time, Salido’s headed attempt crashed against the crossbar with Galadima in an unsighted situation from a tailored cross by the impressive Riquelme.

Since the NPFL All-Stars failed to take Salido’s earlier headed effort against the post as a warning, Adrian Luque made no mistake from an unmarked position inside the box by heading Riquelme’s free kick beyond Galadima with a minute to play plus added time for the winner.

At that point it looked done and dusted as the Spanish club succeeded in defending their Future Champions title while Eguavoen feels his charges “still have to learn”.

Eguavoen also believes that the Future Champions was a good opportunity for the team to gain exposure.

“Congratulations to the Spanish side. Our boys came here, fought and did their best. But there are small, intricate things our boys still have to learn. Well we were together for just nine days before this tournament and facing strong teams like Atletico Madrid who have been together for a while is good for us. At the end we lost concentration but it has been a wonderful tournament for us despite losing on the final day,” Eguavoen said after the game.

•Photo shows Nazifi Yahaya (right) in action at the Future Champions Gauteng.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 26, 2017