BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

It’s a slight slip for Nigeria, but a giant leap for Australia who for the first time in 32 years and spanning seven matches beat Nigeria for the first time at the U17 level.

That made their Friday’s 2-1 win a very significant achievent which moments later also turned to have an added advantage.

With four points in three matches, and having a better record than the other third placed team in Groups A (New Zealand) Australia are lucky third placed qualifiers!

Australia have the good form of Noah Botic to thank for the result obtained.

Botic scored the two goals that took the Ocean-based but Asian Football Confederation qualifiers to the knockout stage.