Gambia News: Flying Eagles rout Gambia for Colombia ticket

Ramon Azeez powered his team into the semi finals and to Colombia. Photo: REUTERS

Flying Eagles rout Gambia for Colombia ticket

By Jide Alaka

April 25, 2011 12:44AM
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After the hiccup of losing to Cameroun on Thursday, Nigeria's U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, beat Gambia's Young Scorpions 2-0 on Sunday, to earn a semifinal berth and also a ticket to the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia in July.

The first half of the match which was played at Milpark Stadium was nothing to write home about, though the Flying Eagles looked the more ambitious but their final pass let them down on many occasions. The Gambian team led by their captain, Gassama Saikou tried to get the goal that would have guaranteed them a place in Colombia but the defensive duo of Ogungbe Ganiu and Arokoyo Gbenga stood the onslaught helped in part by the stand-in-captain, Ramon Azeez.

The first half ended with the Nigerian team in the ascendancy as news filtered in that the Ghanaian Black Satellites were in the lead over the Cameroun team and at that point, Ghana and Cameroun were the teams qualifying from the group. If the Flying Eagles had played a goalless draw, then the defending world champions would have salvaged their pride but that was not to be as the Nigerians scored the goals that were needed in the second half through Stanley Okoro in the 65th minute and the clincher by Azeez 12 minutes later.

Little Messi's entrance

Okoro, who plays for Almeria in Spain and is dubbed ‘little Messi' had come on for Kayode Olanrewaju in the 62nd minute and immediately was into the fray with some smart dribbling. Three minutes after his introduction, Abdul Ajagun exchanged passes on the edge of the Gambian box with Azeez and the return pass released Okoro, who slotted a first-time right foot shot past the Gambian keeper, Camara Musa.

The Gambians tried to pressurise the Nigerian team down the flanks but Terna Suswan and Blessing Anyanwu, who played at the left and right-back positions defended their positions very well.

The second goal duly arrived 12 minutes later with another move on the edge of the box by Uche Nwofor and Terna Suswan. Two-goal hero against Ghana, Nwofor was then brought down by Savage Baboucarr for a free kick.

The free kick was teed up by Suswan and was blasted in by Azeez and that was the ticket to Colombia delivered and sealed.

The Flying Eagles however have to settle for second position in Group B as Ghana and Cameroun drew 1-1 and the Camerounians finished top of the group with seven points to Nigeria's six.

In Group A, Mali confirmed their first place by playing a 1-1 draw with Lesotho. They had earlier defeated South Africa and Egypt, 4-2 and 1-0 respectively. Egypt came in second when they defeated hosts, South Africa 1-0.

The semi-final matches will be played at Dobsonville on Thursday with Nigeria facing Mali while Egypt will face Cameroun while the final will come up on Sunday.