WAFUBU17: Golden Eaglets thrash hosts Ghana

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on Saturday opened their WAFU B U17 tournament account on an impressive note when they thrash hosts Ghana 4-2 in Cape Coast.

Nigeria, coached by Nduka Ugbade, a former U17 World Cup winner as player and assistant coach, went into Saturday’s game knowing that only a win against bitter rivals would put them on a good pedestal for progress and they got it emphatically.

Left back Emmanuel Michael set the Golden Eaglets on the way with a brilliant free-kick which the Ghanaian goalkeeper, Ahmed Dembaram, had no answer to in the 12th minute.

Nigeria doubled their advantage one minute before the interval through highly rated attacker Precious Tonye Williams. Two became three in the 51st minute when Jubril Opeyemi Azeez scored, but the Ghanaians reduced the deficit seven minutes later when substitute Abdul Razak Salifu got the better of goalkeeper Richard Odoh.


The Eaglets would not relent and in the 77th minute, substitute Light Eke netted to make it 4-1 for Nigeria before a momentary loss of concentration in the vital area led to Nigeria conceding a penalty with two minutes to the end, which was put away and cut Nigeria’s advantage to two goals.

With the win, Nigeria top Group A of the championship ahead of their clash with Togo on Tuesday. They need just a point against the Togolese to guarantee Nigeria a spot in the tournament semi finals.