By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria on Saturday October 29, 2022 booked a place in the final round of the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations after a 3-1 aggregate victory against Tanzania.
The win became a reality after Nigeria U23 team beat their visitors 2-0 in the second leg encounter decided inside the Lekan Salami stadium, Ibadan Oyo State.
Both goals were scored by Timilehin Ogunniyi and Success Makanjuola
Some hours before the game, Super Eagles skipper Ahmed Musa had promised the team N500, 000 per goal scored, meaning they now have N1million to share.
Also, a Nigerian Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Task Force on Youth Competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, buoyed the spirit of the team with redemptions of cash promises, and further assured of windfall should they put the Junior Taifa Stars to the sword. It was therefore no surprise when the Olympic Eagles started like a house on fire.
How the game was won and lost
Success Makanjuola, Akanni Qudus, Timilehin Ogunniyi, Sunusi Ibrahim and the attack-minded defender Dominion Ohaka hassled and harassed the visitors’ rearguard to no end, but without finding the early breakthrough they so much desired.
However, Tanzania played a compact and economic game, and could have gone ahead as early as the 12th minute when Mundhir Abadalla unleashed from the edge of the box as Daniel Wotlai mis-judged ball in flight. Nigeria’s first choice Nathaniel Nwosu was up to the task.
Three minutes later, Ohaka’s shot was too high from 20 yards, and Ogunniyi’s efforts screamed way off mark in the 18th minute as Nigeria applied pressure.
Nwosu again came up big in the 28th minute to thwart Muhajiri Jaribi who let fly from just outside the left side of the box. But Nigeria was not daunted and continued to impress in the presence of Governor Makinde and top officials of the Oyo State Government, Sports Minister Sunday Dare and NFF Board Members.
In the second period, Sunusi Ibrahim side-netted from a scissors kick and Ohaka’s thrust went away as Nigeria kept their feet on the pedal, but they could have been shocked in the 52nd minute when a defensive error allowed Edmund Godreu John sight of goal only for him to pull the ball too high.
Nigeria continued to knock on the door and it finally opened in the 62nd minute, when Ogunniyi slammed into the net from a free-kick 23 yards out.
Eight minutes later, the Olympic Eagles as the Nigerian side are fondly known were two goals up when the irrepressible Ogunniyi was hacked in the box, and Makanjuola found the penalty from the spot.
Governor Makinde, Alhaji Balele and Hon. Bukola Olopade all fulfilled their pre-match pledges of $25,000, $20,000 and $5,000 respectively.
The Nigerian team will play the winner of the fixture between Uganda and Guinea in the final round of the qualifiers in March 2023.
