How Flying Eagles Struggled Over Guinea

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Saturday struggled to a 2-0 win over Guinea’s national under-20 men’s football team in a 2011 African Youth Championship qualifier.

In the first round first leg match played at the Abuja National Stadium, goals from Omoh Ojabu and Edafe Egbedi made the difference for the home side.

The Flying Eagles side which paraded mostly players from the Golden Eaglets side that finished second at the 2009 FIFA World Championship in Nigeria failed to hit their rhythm in the first half.

They laboured to control the Guineans who were always looking dangerous on the break through the flanks with Aly Camara and Idrissa Yansane.

But an end-to-end game that produced no clear-cut scoring chances in the first half, the home side which lacked co-ordination upfront improved their game to shock the visitors.

Just after a minute into the second half, a sustained offensive drew out goalkeeper Aboubacar Camara whose clearance was looped high into the net by Ojabu from about 30 metres out.

About a minute later, the Flying Eagles extended their lead from a goalmouth melee that followed a left flank corner kick, when Egbedi at the far side pushed the ball into the net past the Guinean defence.

The Guineans however braced up to the challenge to push the Nigerians back, and with the Flying Eagles removing their foot from the throttle, Ahmed Musa’s efforts upfront were always lacking in support.

Despite substitute Sani Emmanuel’s presence to complement Musa, it was the Guineans that had most of the second half’s best scoring chances, especially with the introduction of Karamokoba Keita.

He, alongside Moustapha Kouyate, Aly Camara, Alseny Kourouma and Ibrahim camara kept the Nigerian defence led by skipper Fortune Chukwudi and goalkeeper Dami Paul busy till the end of the game.

Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh said the Guineans surprised his team with their impressive play, and was happy they were able to get away with a comfortable win.

“They surprised us. It was not what we saw of them on video tape that they displayed today, and I am just happy that we got the needed win,’’ he said.

Coach Sekou Sompare of Guinea could however not be reached for his comments on the match, as his team and their other officials left the pitch in anger.

The second leg tie of the first round pairing comes up in Conakry in two weeks time.

The qualifying competition is for the 2011 AYC scheduled for Libya.