THE Golden Eaglets had to battle back from behind to defeat Cote d’Ivoire in the first semi-final of the WAFU B U-17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana today.
The Nigerian lads achieved two objectives with the victory: they advanced to the final of the tournament and also secured passage into the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations billed for Algeria next year.
Free-kick specialist Emmanuel Michael scored two spectacular goals and Abubakar Idris Abdullahi added the other to give Nduka Ugbade’s boys the crucial win after Yan Diomande had given the Ivorians a surprise lead
Diomande scored fron the penalty spot in the first minute to give Cote d’Ivoire the early advantage as the Eaglets trailed for the first time in the tournament.
The Eaglets responded by going on the attack and creating chance after chance until Michael struck with a long-range free-kick in the 30th minute, his second goal from a set-piece in the competition.
Nigeria turned it around and went in front the first time in the encounter 13 minutes later when Michael struck again from another free-kick at the edge of the Cote d’Ivoire box for his third goal of the tournament.
Abdullahi ensured the Eaglets were on course for their third straight victory in the competition when he netted the third goal with a glancing header in the 60th minute.
Four minutes later, the Ivorians were down to 10 men after Makhete Moustapha N’diaye was shown the red card.
The Golden Eaglets will face the winners of the second semi-final between Burkina Faso and hosts Ghana in Friday’s final.
Michael, the defender with the deadly free-kicks, was named the man of the match for the third consecutive game.
