Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were held to a goalless draw by the Amajita of South Africa in their second Group A game on Tuesday at the ongoing 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, reports Completesports.com.
The result leaves Group A wide open. Nigeria’s Flying were the only side that had chance of qualifying for the Semi-finals with a win on matchday-two.
It was the first game of the tournament that ended without a goal scored. Nigeria began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Burundi, while Amajita drew 1-1 with the host in their Group A opener over the weekend
Paul Aigbogun’s side dominated possession and created three good chances to score but they were all denied by outstanding South Africa’s goalkeeper, Khulekani Kubheka.
Abubakar Ibrahim, Maxwell Effiom and Nazifi Yahaya were all denied by Kubhekwa.
The Amajita of South Africa also had their chance in the first half but Olawale Oremade was brave to get off his line to deny Siphesihle Mkhize.
Also Read: U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles One Win (Vs South Africa) Away From Securing World Cup Spot
Amajita struggled to get out of their own half for most of the encounter deploying more men in defence to curtail the rampaging forwards of the Flying Eagles.
Nigeria had to wait until the final minutes of the second half to carve out chances, but Amajita goalkeeper Kubheka produced a couple of key saves to ensure South Africa earned a hard-fought draw.
Despite the draw, the seven time winners of the competition remain top of group A with four points from two games while South Africa are second with two points from the same number of games.
Nigeria will face hosts, Niger in their final group game on Friday while South Africa will battle Burundi also on Friday.
By Johnny Edward
14 Comments
There’s nothing U20 about this team. I just wish MRI scans were also applicable at this level. Our players looked clearly older than the Amajitas. Apart from Nazifi Yahaya who has been in the youth setup since U13 and reserve goalkeeper Akpan Udoh…..none of the rest have passed thru our youth setup before now. Even if they win this tournament…its still not going to be healthy for our football in the long run. Where is john obuh’s 2013 U20 team today….? Where are the 2015 U20 players that were not part of the MRI certified 2013 U17s…???
However, 2 players have caught my eyes thus far….the goalkeeper Oremade and the well known leftback Ikuowem Udoh. Enough has been said about Udoh…but the Oremade has something in him that makes me feel he should make the step up to the SE. His demeanor and disposition in between the sticks far belies his ‘age’, coupled with his imposing height and catlike agility. How nice will it be if going forward, we have 3 U23 6ft plus goalkeeprs in the SE…..Uzoho, Alampasu and Oremade. We would have secured our goalkeeping department for at least the next decade and a half.
Failed MRI scans 2013:
Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi is currently one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe playing for Leicester in the English premier League.
Ibrahim Muazzam Alhassan is with CD Nacional in the Portuguese premier League (currently out injured with hamstring)
Emmanuel Asadu is nowhere to be found
John Obuh’s Under 20 squad 2015 include:
Joshua Enaholo Abia Warriors NPFL
Alampasu Feirense Portugal premier
Musa Mohammed HNK Gorica Croatia PL
Ndidi Leicester EPL
Moses Simon Levante La Liga
Kingsley Sokari Sfaxien Tunisian PL
Isaac Success Watford EPL
Iheanacho Leicester EPL
Musa Yahaya Porto B Portuguese first Division
Goodwin saviour Roeselare Belgian first Division
Taiwo Awoniyi RE Mouscron Belgian PL (2x team of the week – current)
Chidera Ezeh Portimonense Portugal PL
Ifeanyi Mathew Turkish First Division
Ifeanyi ifeanyi ES Serif Tunisian PL
Chidi Nwakali Kalmarr Swedish PL
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_U-20_World_Cup_squads
Under 20 2013:
Moses Simon Levante La Liga
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester EPL
Shehu Abdullahi Bursaspor Turkish PL
Uche Agbo Rayo Vallecano La Liga
Aminu Umar Rizespor Turkish PL
Emem Eduok BB Erzurumspor Turkish PL
Abdul Ajagun OmoniNicosia Cyprus PL
Olanrewaju Kayode Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine PL
Kingsley Madu Roeselare Belgian first Division
Thanks @ Big D for taking time to dig out the profiles of the players form both squads I referred to.
Apparently only about 40% of the 2013 U20 team are still playing anything close to meaningful football today, compared to close to 70% in the 2015 squad….yet the 2013 squad are supposed to be approaching their peak now (25yrs old) when they should be producing their best football. The likes of egbedi, moses orkuma, Jonah usman, Micheal olaitan, Alhaji gero, etc have all diminished unrepairably.
I try to project into 2 years from now….and though im not being pessimistic and I’m wishing them all the best in their careers, but that 40% of the 2013 squad is qoing to further reduce….because sincerely speaking…most of them seem to be heading downhill. I do the same projections for the 2015 squad, and my thoughts are that that 70% either going to increase slightly, or decrease slightly, but will largely remain along that 70% curve….as the careers pf most of them are in the ascendancy. Thus my take on this issue remains that there is nothing to celebrate in old men winning over their nephews’ mates. Our players yesterday CLEARLY look like the uncles of the amajitas. Since MRI was introduced at u17 level in 2009, we have won 2 golds and one silver medal in 6 world cups in 8 years at that level….that’s about 63% of the total had won in 22 years between 1985 to 2007. If we can win world cups with true u17s, we can also win with true u20s
Drey, I think you are over imagining a scenario. I just went through the squads for the Under 20 2013 for three top countries that are rennowned for football development: England, Spain and France. I could only identify about 5 players from each squad. Not every o e that does well at under 20 will go into play for their national team, nor will play for a premiership side. Players will find their level.
Egbedi plays in division one in Sweden and recently was bought by a new club. If we look at Derik of the Spanish team. At the time he was playing for Real Madrid youth team. He went onto sign for Bolton and after a while they released him as he flopped there. He now plays for Numancia in La Liga 2 (he is eligible for Nigeria by the way).
Some players will make it, others will not. We have a good percentage of players from both squads playing premiership football, a good number who have or are still in the reckoning for the Super Eagles, just as there are others who are only suitable for the first or second division. That is football.
Don’t forget these are all young men (early twenties) who will be making more money than they ever thought and with the distractions of women, drugs, alcohol, parties and just generally being organised. Look how long it took Isaac Success to settle down and realise that talent alone will not cut it.
Our two under 20 squads of 2013 and 2015 performed at a high rate and the percentage of players who are household names are at par with any country that appeared in those competitions.
If we had a proper football league that looks after player development, I dare say we would do even better.
Shebi Mikel, Ogu and Ighalo could’ve come home to play in order to get ready for AFCON? Shebi the NFF could’ve gotten local clubs to develop our youth players like the EPL does with the bulk of their players going to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man United. And still with this of the England squad in 2013 only Harry Kane, Eric Dier, John Stones and Jamaal Lascelles and Prouse Wright are recognisable names as EPL and National team players.
Final word, playing at Under 20 does not guarantee that one will play for the Super Eagles or even make it as a professional football player at the top
Well said @ Big D. I entirely relate with your assertions.
Well said @ Big D. I quite relate perfectly with your assertions.
I was awed with the passing game of the flying eagles.The build up was good only for deliveries from the flanks letting the team down.The final third of the flying eagles needs to do more.
Meanwhile the bin poled centre half of the junior eagles Valentine Ozonwafor caught my fancy.I love that lad and his left foot he has an amazing height should be about 6/7 tall.Great height.
This Nigerian team will qualify I am looking forward to a resounding victory against the host country.The flying eagles are comfortable with the ball which is their great attributes.
Having said that,the Amajitas looks a lot younger than our lads.
Most of our lads are seasoned professionals and you could see that with their confidence on the ball and how they dictate play.The south Africans are genuine under 20’s if Nigeria had gone to the last cadet world cup the team would have been a feeder to fetch genuine under 20’s for the flying eagles,it’s a shame because we have to pick players from the league who claims to be within the age limits but doesn’t look it.
God bless Nigeria
You’re right good build play but very bad crosses from both full backs and poor shooting or will I say conversion rate. Host Niger will come fighting plus the officiating might be something else I hope miracle happens
They are all over 30s, too old to play under 20, cant even beat this south african youths. shame on them and shame on Nigerian league
I watched the first game against Burundi and for all the skill & flambouyance, they sorely lacked creativity other wise the score would have been atleast 4 nil. Without creativity it would be hard for them at the world cup. Again if these guys are not u20 without then no point hoping on this squad for the future. Nobody can tell me that you cannot find 21 skillful, technical & creative boys born from 1999 in Naija. Our coaches are just lasy.
Mate, these are Aghaowa-esq u-21. Should any of them make it to the Super Eagles, expect a maximum of 2-4 years top flight football; then, they fade as fast as they come to prominence.
Nigeria does not groom footballers from schools any more and it is affecting Under age players i.e. u17 & u20. Their ball sense is appalling . What the U20 had going for them in the match against SA was their physical ability and their fight spirit. The luck they had was that the SA team was not really a good one. If they play against the host like that they will be beaten. One other thing militating against our youth teams is that coaches after coaches now rely on wazobia arrangement to form our teams instead of scouting for players from every corner of Nigeria. The minority areas like old Bendel, Old rivers and old cross river are been left out and these areas had always produced some of the best footballers for Nigeria. If the coaches do their work sincerely they will throw up the best of the best.