U-17 W/Cup:Eaglets Hold Sweden In Pulsating Encounter

The Golden Eaglets fought back to cancel a two goal deficit and eventually held their Swedish counterparts to a 3-3 draw in their second game of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup.
Valmir Berisha scored twice inside the first nineteen minutes to give the Swedes a two goal lead before Issac Success pulled a goal back for Nigeria with an exceptional volley in the 22nd minute.
The Nigerian team however suffered a blow shortly after, as Success had to be taken off after picking an injury, and he was subsequently replaced by Taiwo Awoniyi in the 32nd minute.
Nigeria continued to fight for an equalizer, sending in lots of vertical balls into the box of the opponents, with Awoniyi fluffing a goal scoring opportunity that came off a corner kick. But the Swedes managed to hold their advantage into the break.
Yahaya got the much needed equalizer for Nigeria with just three minutes into the resumption of the second half after managing to slip the ball underneath Sixteb Mohlin who stood in goal for the Scandinavians.
Mirza Halvadzic however restored the lead for the Swedes after Nigeria’s goalkeeper Dele Alampasu failed to properly deal with a cross which was poked by the lurking Halvadzic.
Nigeria searched frantically for an equalizer with Awoniyi and Yahaya keeping Mohlin busy.
Awoniyi eventually equalized for Nigeria for the second time in the game, after heading in a cross from Iheanacho in the 81st minute.
Meanwhile, the National U-17 Women Team, the Flamingos, have booked a place in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals, scheduled to take place in Costa Rica in 2014.
The Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Mr Ademola Olajire, said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday that the qualification became possible, following South Sudan’s withdrawal from the qualifying race.
Olajire said the Sudanese were to host the first leg of the qualifying fixture on the weekend of November 1 to 3, but threw in the towel to make Nigeria the first African team to qualify for the finals.
“It’s good that our team has qualified early.
“The Nigeria Football Association will ensure the team starts preparation early enough and very ready to do Nigeria proud,” the statement quoted Musa Amadu, the NFA Secretary-General, as saying.
The NFA said the tournament would be staged in the Costa Rica cities of San Jose, Alajuela, Liberia and Tibas.

Golden Eaglets playmaker, Iheanacho outwits his Swedish marker in yesterday’s match.