Nigeria is Africa’s Orange CAN U-20 Champions - Orange African Youth Championship 2011

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Nigeria is Africa’s Orange CAN U-20 Champions

05-01-2011

Nigeria is Africa’s Orange CAN U-20 Champions

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Cameroon’s hope of lifting the Orange African Youth Championship were dealt a massive blow on Sunday afternoon at the Dobsonville Stadium as they lost 3-2 to Nigeria.

After a long battle for the 1^st place of the Orange African Youth Championship between Nigeria and Cameroon, Nigeria emerged victorious to scoop the most prestigious trophy in this age category.

The game started off at equilibrium as both teams attacked from the word go. Cameroon’s Ohandza Franck missed a good opportunity inside the Flying Eagles box.

Both teams showed astute determination to win the trophy as they engaged on attacks.

Cameroon came close several times but was to be stopped by a very confident Nigerian defense.

Then it was the Flying Eagles to turn the pressure on Cameroon who stayed back to absorb it and as well pushing Nigeria back with some counters.

At half hour mark, both teams became more aggressive with some bright striking attempts from pole to pole, however both defenses remained impermeable before the break.

Back from the dressing room, the two teams showed the very same determination as in the first half. The second half was action packed and the supporters of both teams kept the momentum alive.

The Flying Eagle’s Kayode Ayobami broke the deadlock as he fired a sizzling shot that separated the two sides in the 75^th minute.

Five minutes later Kayode was brought down inside the box and Nwofor Innocent successfully converted it for Nigeria’s second goal.

It proved to be too early to write off the Junior Lions as they were to equalize in the last 8 minutes of the second half.

Ohandza Franck of Cameroon was the first to bring back hope for the Cameroonian’s as he surprised the Nigerian’s tight defense with the first goal for the Junior Lions 82^nd minute.

At the 85^nd minute, the 18 year old Salli Nicaise scored the equalizing goal that saw the Cameroonian supporters on their feet again. This is the goal that brought back the Young Lion’s fighting force. The game went on to extra time.

Stakes were high as Nicaise’s goal put both teams into a two all score.

The real crucial moment came when the Flying Eagle’s Envoh Terry snatched the leading goal in the first minute of the referee’s extra time and John Obuh’s boys were back in the driving seat.

Cameroonians kept on trying their luck at goal but Nigeria’s well organized defense proved to be too stubborn for them to break and the game ended with Nigeria winning the competition for the sixth time 10 men.

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