AFCON looses medal for the first time

Once more, penalty shoot-out proved the undoing of Paul Aigbogun’s Nigeria U-20 squad as South Africa’s Amajita picked up the bronze medals of the 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Niamey on Saturday.

The Nigerians were held 0-0 by Amajita during the match duration but fell 5-3 in the ensuing shoot-out.

Failure to put away a number of opportunities that came their way proved fatal for the seven-time champions, who endured the humiliation of finishing outside the medals’ range at the tournament for the first time.

Peter Eletu, who was starting for the first time as the Nigerian camp tried to lift the morale of the boys following Wednesday’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Mali in the semi-finals, fluffed what was a good opportunity in the 32nd minute when the ball fell invitingly to him just outside the Amajita’s 18-yard box during an onslaught. He instead hooked the ball over the bar.

The poor passes, aimless shots and pathetic lack of marksmanship that saw the Flying Eagles end up with the wrong end of the stick on Wednesday were again in full flow, and the encounter was a stinging reminder of the fact that Aigbogun and his assistants have to re-jig the squad before the World Cup finals in Poland in three months’ time.

Alhassan Adamu, who scored the goal against host nation Niger Republic in their third Group A game, fluffed Nigeria’s first kick in the shoot-out, following a dismal show by both teams in regulation time.

South Africa scored all their kicks to pocket the bronze medal and of course the bragging rights after both teams finished their Group A clash scoreless on Match Day 2

On Sunday (today), the impressive Lionceau du Teranga of Senegal will lock horns with Mali’s Junior Eagles in the final match of the championship.