28 April 2011
Nigeria have booked a place in the 2011 African Youth Championships final after a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Mali at the Dobsonville Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Flying Eagles were always in control of the game and earned their victory via goals from Uche Nwofor, his third of the tournament, and Stanley Okoro (penalty).
Mali looked toothless in attack, though they did have one golden chance with the score at 1-0, but Ibrahima Diallo missed with a point-black header would he could only guide the ball onto the post.
There was an element of good fortune about the Nigerian opener on 22 minutes as Olanrewaju Kayode looked to have used his hand at the near post to flick on a cross, before Nwofor steered home the ball at the back post.
The Mali players were furious and protested against the goal, but it stood and Nigeria had a deserved lead.
Amara Malle struck the post with a shot from 18-yards as Mali looked to get back into the game, while just before the break Nwofor should have grabbed his second as his point-blank header was brilliantly saved by Cheick Sy in the Malien goal.
Ibrahim Diallo should have leveled up the game with that header that struck the woodwork with 16 minutes on the clock, but the win was finally made safe for Nigeria eight minutes into injury-time as Kayode was felled in the area and Okoro kept his nerve to score the spot-kick.
