African Games
NIGERIA’S FLYING EAGLES FLY CLOSER TO AFRICAN GAMES’ MEDAL ZONE
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles
got their first three points of the football
event of the ongoing 12th African Games with a 2-1 win over South Africa
at the FAR Sports Complex in Rabat on Tuesday.
Goals by Collins Sor and Ahmed Ghali ensured Nigeria went top of Group A of the men’s football event.
Coach Paul Aigbogun made
three changes to the lineup that drew 1-1
with Burkina Faso with Adesina Gata coming in for Success Makanjuola,
while Liameed Quadri took the place of Samuel Nnoshiri and Mathew
Yakubu replaced a crocked Detan Ogundare in goal.
Nigeria started brightly
and could have taken the lead but for a
plethora of missed chances notably by Collins Sor, Ahmad Ghali and
Saeed Jibril. Sor eventually broke the deadlock in the 27th minute
after cooly finishing Saeed Jibril’s pass.
South Africa equalised
through Ofentse Mashiane who found space in the
Flying Eagles defence to equalise in the 55th minute.
Nigeria coach Aigbogun
brought on Success Makanjuola and Chinonso
Emeka for Saeed Jibril and Collins Sor and this helped increase the
tempo in the Nigeria attack, which resulted in the winning goal. Ibrahim
Abubakar found space to run at the South African defence and
whip in a cross, which was met by Ahmad Ghali for his second of the
competition and the winner for Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles top the
group with four points and will now play hosts
Morocco in their last group game on Friday in Rabat.
Nigeria starters
Mathew Yakubu (GK), Habibu Yakubu, Ibrahim Abubakar (c), Mike Zaruma,
Rabiu Muhammad, Peter Eletu, Collins Sor, Ahmad Ghali, Adesina Gata,
Liameed Quadri, Saeed Jibril