The Nation Newspaper

Tag: WYC

  • Brazil hit U-20 World Cup final

    Brazil hit U-20 World Cup final

    … Hammer Senegal 5-0

    Marcos Guilherme scored twice as Brazil demolished Senegal 5-0 to secure a place in Saturday’s under-20 World Cup final.

    Rogerio Micale’s team, who won two successive penalty shootouts to reach the last four, ended a 244-minute scoring drought in some style with three goals in the first 20 minutes to effectively wrap up the contest.

    The Brazilians were 2-0 up in the first seven minutes with Anda Correa conceding an own goal after a Joao Pedro cross deflected off his leg before Guilherme doubled the advantage, Reuters says.

    Boschilia put the game beyond any doubt in the 19th minute when Senegal goalkeeper Ibrahima Sy parried a cross into the midfielder’s path before Flamengo defender Jorge completed the first half scoring in the 35th minute.

    The West Africans, who had been unfortunate not to score when Sidy Sarr’s 19th minute shot cannoned off the crossbar, were reduced to 10 men just before halftime when Elimane Cisse received a second booking.

    With the match settled in the first half, the game meandered after the break with neither side creating any real chances until Guilherme put a gloss on the victory with his second goal in the 78th minute.

     

  • WYC: Garba ‘proud’ of Flying Eagles

    WYC: Garba ‘proud’ of Flying Eagles

    Flying Eagles Coach, Manu Garba, has lauded his players despite the team second round exit at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Germany defeated Nigeria 1-0 with Levin Öztunalı’s first half strike separating the two teams in Thursday morning clash, Goal reports.

    And despite the disappointment at his side’s failure, Garba said his wards can be proud of themselves for their efforts.

    “I believe that our players learnt a lot from this game and a big lesson in general from the tournament,” Goal quoted Garba as saying on fifa.com.

    “The level at U-20s is far higher than at U-17s and Germany is a very tough and highly tactical team. Our players lost concentration at the crucial moment and this gave the Germans a chance to score.

    “Our goalkeeper played a great game though and may have saved that ball if he had a clear view, but there is nothing we can do now.

    “All my players have been in great form and I am proud of them all. There have been so many unexpected results in this tournament, but one can never predict the winner.

    “I give my thanks to New Zealand for showing love for our team, the people here have made us feel at home,” he concluded.

    The FIFA U-20 World Cup title has eluded Nigeria who had made it to final on two occasions (Saudi Arabia 1989 and Netherlands 2005).

  • Germany eliminate Nigeria from WYC

    Germany eliminate Nigeria from WYC

    Germany produced a stunning display of attacking football to kick Nigeria out of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand with a 1-0 win in Christchurch.

    The Germans came into the game in great form winning all three of their preliminary games and scoring 16 goals while letting in just one prior to facing the Flying Eagles, supersport.com reports.

    The Nigerians were also in buoyant mood ahead of the clash following preliminary stage wins over Korea DPR and Hungary after a calamitous 2-4 defeat to Brazil in the opening game.

    It was however the Germans who started the stronger with crisp passing and fluid movement, unsurprisingly mustering the first goal scoring opportunity inside the opening 60 seconds but Julian Weigl shot wildly after he was put through by Julian Brandt.

    The Germans were fearfully dominant in the opening stages, employing a high pressing game that completely left the Nigerians out of their depth.

    The European champions almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute but Wilfred Ndidi was on hand to provide a goal line clearance.

    Nigeria had just one chance in the first half and it came via a set piece which Musa Mohammed played straight at Germany’s goalkeeper, Marvin Schwäbe.

    On 19 minutes, the Germans got their just reward with a stunning goal which was blasted home with frightening force by Levin Öztunali after Kingsley Sokari lost the ball in his half.

    Germany should have added the the second goal moments later but Hany Mukhtar was denied in spectacular fashion by Enaholo.

    The Nigeria goalkeeper was called to action shortly before half time and he came out with flying colours to deny Marc Stendera with a double save, the first, a world class effort.

     

  • Africa team will lift U-20 World Cup – Garba

    Africa team will lift U-20 World Cup – Garba

    Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has predicted an African team will win this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Ghana made history in 2009 when Black Satellites became the first African team to win the U-20 World Cup, while Nigeria has reached the championship game twice in 1989 and 2005, africanFootball.com reports.

    Ghana and Mali are already through to the knockout rounds of the tournament in New Zealand, while Nigeria and Senegal are still in with a chance of progressing.

    “Ghana and Mali have been fantastic,” the Nigeria U-20 coach said.

    “We are just picking up.

    “But we are most likely to get two African teams in the semifinals and God’s willing, the trophy will return to Africa.”

    Manu has equally taken notice of the organisation of the European teams as well as the sleeky skills of five time champions, Brazil.

    “The European teams like Germany, Serbia and Portugal are doing well because they are tactically organised, while Brazil has proved they are a decent side as well,” he remarked.

    “The knockout rounds will show who are the top teams here.”

  • Nigeria thrashes Korea DR in WYC

    Nigeria thrashes Korea DR in WYC

    …  Flying Eagles maul Asians 4-0

    Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Thursday morning defeated the North Korea junior national team 4-0 in a group E match of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in New Zealand.

    The African champions needed a win to restore confidence after dramatically losing 2-4 to Brazil in their opening game of the competition on Monday.

    Head coach, Manu Garba dropped the team top stars – Success Isaac, Musa Yahaya and Kelechi Iheanacho from the starting XI with Bernard Bulwa, Saviour Godwin and Kingsley Sokari restored to the starting line up in their place, supersport.com reports.

    Goalkeeper, Joshua Enaholo was also given the nod to start despite his blunders against the five-time world champions on Monday.

    In a first half lacking in genuine quality, goal chances were at a premium as the Koreans defended in numbers, ostensibly in a bid to avoid a repeat of the humiliating 1-5 reverse suffered against Hungary on match day one.

    One of Nigeria’s few clear cut openings in the first half arrived in the 18th minute when Awoniyi was played through by Sokari but the attacker failed to keep his composure in the box and the chance was wasted.

    Seven minutes later, Bulbwa was brought down at the edge of the Koran box as the Asians defended for dear life.

    Captain, Musa Mohammed delivered the set piece well enough but the Korean goalkeeper, keeper Cha Jong-hun saved unconventionally before beating out the rebound by Awoniyi in impressive fashion.

    A minute later, Awoniyi warmed the palms of Jong-hun again as the Nigerian onslaught on the Korean goal continued

    The Koreans mustered a couple of half chances before the break but neither side could get the breakthrough.

    Surprisingly, it was the underdogs that almost scored first as the second half commenced in frenetic fashion.

    Jo Kwang-myong hit the side netting but the effort would not have counted as he had been flagged offside moments earlier.

  • WYC: Nigeria crashes to Brazil

    WYC: Nigeria crashes to Brazil

    …Samba Boys pip Flying Eagles 4-2

    Strings of mistakes by defenders and goalkeeper contributed to Nigeria’s 2-4 defeat to Brazil in Monday’s group E clash at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Gabriel put the Brazilians ahead in the 4th minute, placing the ball into the net after a good move.

    Isaac Success leveled for the Nigerians six minutes later, though, slotting the ball into the net after good work from Kelechi Iheanacho, sl10.ng reports.

    Alef had a chance to restore the five-time world champions’ advantage on 18 minutes, but he was denied by goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo who pulled a one-handed save.

    Just a minute later, Judivan tested Enaholo with a screamer towards the top corner, but the Nigerian goalkeeper was able to dive at full stretch.

    Having successfully seen out a spell of constant pressure from Brazil, Nigeria took the lead against the run of play.

    Musa Yahaya placed the ball into the bottom-left corner to net his first goal of the competition.

    Judivan, who was a constant threat to the Nigerians in the first half, put the Brazilians on level term in the 34 minute.

    The ball watching defenders allowed space for a pass to be sliced to the path of Judivan, who rolled the ball into the net.

    At the beginning of the second half, the Nigerians were quick out of the blocks with their fluid passing game.

    Taiwo Awoniyi who had an average game was denied by Brazil goal tender Jean.

    One minute before the hour mark, Brazil took the lead once again.

    Substitute Boschilia scored the goal. His speculative strike from long range sneaked past Enaholo.

    Nigeria pressed for an equalizer and almost got it when Iheanacho went on a solo run. It was his last contribution of the match as he made way for Kingsley Sokari 15 minutes from time.

    The South Americans finally nailed the African champions in the 82nd minute.

    Judivan profited from another criminal error by Enaholo to complete an impressive brace.

     

  • WYC: Obuh warns Flying Eagles against complacency

    WYC: Obuh warns Flying Eagles against complacency

    Former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, has advised the team not to get carried away by its pre-tournament success, saying the players must stay focus to achieve success at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup which begins Saturday in New Zealand.

    Obuh, who led Nigeria to the 2011 and 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cups in Colombia and Turkey respectively, said the World Cup is always different from preparatory games and advised the team to be prepared.

    “The players have to be prepared because the tournament proper is always different from the friendly games they play, so they must not get carried away by the good results they got in those friendlies,” he told sl10.ng..

    “It is something that happens because most times you play well before a competition and you think you’ve actually played the competition but it’s always different.”

    His advice notwithstanding, Obuh restated his confidence in the team, and praised the duo of Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade for doing a “wonderful job” on the team.

  • Garba tips Awoniyi, Iheanacho Sokari to shine at WYC

    Garba tips Awoniyi, Iheanacho Sokari to shine at WYC

    Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Kingsley Sokari and Moses Simon are the players Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has picked to shine at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which begins next week.

    Awoniyi’s goals helped the Flying Eagles to win the African Youth Championship in March, Iheanacho is firing again after injury, while Enyimba midfielder Sokari has broken into the first team and Moses Simon proved his worth by clinching the Belgian league championship with Gent.

    “Right from the qualifiers, Taiwo Awoniyi has been very consistent and he has improved match after match. He is a player who gets into a scoring position better than any other player,” africanFootball.com quoted Garba as saying in an interview.

    “I believe if he stayed calm, he will be one player who will do very, very well at the World Cup.

    “There are some others like Kelechi Iheanacho, who was the best player at the last U-17 World Cup. If he was free of injury, he will hit very big as well.

    “There is also Kingsley Sokari. If he listened very well and works very hard too, he will have a great World Cup.

    “You cannot forget a player like Moses Simon, who has been fantastic in Belgium, he will be great.”

    Garba is upbeat about the quality running through the Flying Eagles that he predicted the team to produce both the best player and top scorer at the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    “I believe the best player and highest scorer (of the World Cup) will come from my team,” he tipped.

  • WYC: Garba worried over Flying Eagles’ defence

    WYC: Garba worried over Flying Eagles’ defence

    Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has admitted the defence remains his major worry going into the FIFA U-20 World Cup, while at the same time saying his attack will be the most lethal in New Zealand.

    “We still need to work on our defence. This is where we need to work on before the World Cup kicks off,” africanFootball.com quoted Garba as saying on Thursday.

    “The mental speed of the players (has to be better) – they do recover in good time, but they often fail to do the marking when it matters most, to close up on the opposition.

    “But I believe before the World Cup, the defence will be a lot tighter because we will surely work on those areas. This is the major weakness of this team.”

    However, the Flying Eagles has an embarrassment of talent to choose from in attack with the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success and Kelechi Iheanacho on top form and scoring goals for the coach to say his strike force will be the deadliest at the World Cup

    “The midfield is the main strength of this team, but with the inclusion of Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, the attack will be very, very deadly. It will be difficult to get an attack that will be as deadly as that of Nigeria,” he warned.

    The African champions will play Brazil, North Korea and Hungary in the first round of the competition, which kicks off on May 30 in New Zealand.

  • WYC: Burden of expectations on Flying Eagles – Obuh

    WYC: Burden of expectations on Flying Eagles – Obuh

    Former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, has said expectations for the Flying Eagles to have a good outing at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand are very high judging by the calibre of talent in the side and their antecedents.

    Manu Garba’s boys remain unbeaten since the team transitioned from being World’s U-17 champions and will face Brazil, Hungary, and North Korea in Group E of the championship billed to commence on May 30, Goal reports.

    Obuh, who led Nigeria the Flying Eagles to Colombia 2011 and Turkey 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cups, told Goal that the current set has quality players and should go for gold.

    “I’m sure the players know the magnitude of the tournament and judging from what they have been doing at the U-17 level down to the African Youth Championship, they are expected to do well,” Obuh told Goal.

    “The team has players that have been together for a while and can win, so Nigerians are expecting the team to come out flying when the championship begins.”

    He also claimed that the wild card given to Europe-based trio of Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success and Moses Simon in the 21-man final squad will not have a negative impact on the team.

    “I don’t see that affecting the team because they are doing well for their respective teams. Remember they were part of the team to the U-17 World Cup and aside from this, their coaches have a strong faith in them,” he continued.

    “The most important thing is that they join the team on time, blend and complement their other colleagues’ efforts. With this, there won’t be any problem,” he concluded.

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