Agbalaka’s 71st minute goal draws Nigeria close to quarterfinals

Flying Eagles in action against Egypt on Wednesday

Fight almost fell apart last minute, says insider Nigeria, yesterday, got close to joining Senegal in the quarterfinals of the ongoing African U-20 Nations Cup in Egypt by beating the hosts 1-0 at the Cairo International Stadium.

The Flying Eagles, against all predictions, lost 0-1 to Senegal in their opening game and needed either a win or a draw to retain hopes of making the second round. That they did courtesy of defender, Solomon Agbalaka’s 71st minute bullet header off a cross from the right flank.

The hosts were held to a goalless draw by Mozambique in their opening game on Sunday, and like Nigeria, needed to avoid defeat to remain in contention for a quarterfinal ticket. But they met a Flying Eagles team bent on showing that their loss to Senegal was a fluke.

Nigeria went into the game like a house on fire, with the strike force, led by Onuche Ogbelu, taking the fight to the hosts. But despite having more of possession, the Flying Eagles found it difficult to make their superiority show, fluffing chance after chance.

The Egyptians came more into the game in the second half, but they found Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chijioke Aniagboso, a hard nut to crack. And just when the hosts thought they could, somehow, find a way past the 17-year-old Aniagboso, the Flying Eagles struck.

Egypt conceded a corner kick in the 71st minute and lined up defenders to keep the Flying Eagles’ attackers at bay. But they didn’t reckon with defender, Agbalaka, who rose above all the obstacles to power home a bullet header.

Thereafter, the Nigerians locked up shop, displaying a game management style that confounded the Young Pharoahs till the end of the match.

Nigeria’s next game is against