Posted by Adekunle Salami on
Nigeria's national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, on Saturday qualified for the second round stage of the ongoing World Youth Championship in grand style.
Nigeria's national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, on Saturday qualified for the second round stage of the ongoing World Youth Championship in grand style.
The team under the tutelage of coach Samson Siasia defeated Switzerland 3-0 to place second in group F of the competition.
Nigeria finished with four points having won one, drawn one and lost one match in the event holding in Holland.
Brazil defeated Korea 2-0 to clinch the number one spot of the group with seven points after winning two and drawing just one match in the preliminaries.
The Nigerian team entered the match as the bottom placed team of the group courtesy of the shocking defeat suffered against Korea on Wednesday.
After a goalless first half, the Nigerians approached the second with all seriousness for the goals.
And the goals came through Chinedu Ogbuke (49th), Mikel Obi (59th penalty) and Isaac Promise (85th)
It was a match the Nigerian team controlled from the beginning to the end with good ball control and aggressive play.
Referee Ruiz Oscar of Columbia was firm in controlling the match as he issued four yellow cards to the Swiss and two to Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles will now meet Ukraine in the last 16 stage of the competition on Wednesday.
Another African team, Morocco, on Friday defeated Chile 1-0 to move into the second round of the competition.
Egypt and Benin are however out of the competition. The junior Pharaohs lost 1-0 to USA while Benin lost by the same margin to host, Holland.
Sunday Punch, June 19, 2005