Nigeria Wins Seventh AYC

Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi(middle), President-General of Ikwerre Youth Movement(IYM) Azubyke Wanjoku(left) and APC House of Representatives candidate for Obio-Akpor(Rivers) at the Praise and Worship session by IYM in Isiokpo, Rivers State, yesterday.

Nigeria beat the host nation Senegal 1-0 yesterday  in Dakar to win a seventh CAF African Youth Championship.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria’ previous triumphs came in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005 and 2011.
The Nigerian side went into the lead after 18 minutes when Bernard Bulbwa powered home a fantastic volley from the edge of the danger area and past stranded goalkeeper Ibrahima Sy.
But it was the Senegalese who got the best chance of the first half when goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo had to save virtually off the feet of Eld Hadj Niang right inside his six-yard box.
Both teams started the game brightly but after some time, Senegal stepped up the pressure and asked some questions of the Nigerians.
First, Sidy Sarr threatened the Nigerian goal in the 20th minute and in the 35th minute Moussa Kone shot from the edge of the box, but he missed the target.
Kone then saw his header come off the post just five minutes from the interval.
In the 47th minute, Nigerian keeper Enaholo tipped away a shot from skipper Roger Gomis from just outside the box, as Senegal continued to press for the equaliser.
‘Muazam’ Ibrahim Alhassan replaced the injured Obinna Nwobodo in the 56th minute and in the 58th minute, a desperate clearance off the goalline denied ‘Muazam’ to double the Flying Eagles’ lead.
On the hour mark Enaholo’s indecisiveness almost gifted Senegal a chance to get back into the game, but again poor finishing ensured they did not.
In the 75th minute, Sy was alert to save off the feet of Taiwo Awoniyi as the game swung from one end of the pitch to the other.
Sy pulled off the save of the day in the 87th minute, when he kept out a goal-bound shot by Ifeanyi Matthew.
Nigeria became champions of Africa once more at Under 20 level.