NIGERIA reached the final round of the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations on Saturday after Timilehin Ogunniyi and Success Makanjuola scored in the second leg at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan to condemn visitors Tanzania to a two-goal defeat and 1-3 loss on aggregate.
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 economical 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 misjudged the 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 the mark in the 18th minute as Nigeria applied pressure.
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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 were two goals up when the irrepressible Ogunniyi was hacked in the box, and Makanjuola found the penalty from the spot.
At the end, Sports Minister Sunday Dare praised the team for a job well done but charged them to develop the mentality to convert most of the opportunities they create during play.
“I congratulate you for a job well done and I am happy that you have reached the final round of the qualifiers for the U23 AFCON. But I am challenging you to learn to convert most of your chances in open play. You only need to work hard and stay