Nigeria National Under 20 Men’s Football team Flying Eagles have failed to reach the final of the 18th Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt as a composed Amajita of South Africa soaked up all the pressure and intensity from the Flying Eagles, to land the sucker punch midway into the second half to win by the odd goal and condemn the seven time champions to Sunday’s third-place match.
The Flying Eagles started with so much intensity, but could have done with a lot more coordination and composure in the final third as the opportunities came and went without any one being utilized.
Three minutes later, Thabang Mahlangu could have profited from Amajita’s first real incursion upfront when goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt missed an inswinger, but captain Daniel Bameyi spirited the ball away from goal.
On the hour mark, Nigeria lost the dependable goalkeeper Harcourt to injury and after five minutes Yakub miscalculated the ball from a pull-out and defender Tylon Smith rose above him to head into the net.
Opportunities fell to substitute Mendos Rickson and Auwal Ibrahim later on, but the Flying Eagles could not find parity and must now play the in the third place having seal qualification to the U20 World Cup in Chile in September.
