Nigeria's Flying Eagles have failed to reach the final of the 18th Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, as a calm and composed Amajita soaked up all the pressure and intensity before landing the sucker punch midway through the second half to win by a single goal, condemning the seven-time champions to Sunday’s third-place match.
The Flying Eagles started with great intensity and muscle-flexing but could have used much more coordination and composure in the final third, as the opportunities came and went without being utilized.
Forward Kparobo Arierhi could not connect with a teasing cross from Clinton Jephta in the 22nd minute, and then missed the target from six yards with only the goalkeeper to beat at the half-hour mark.
Three minutes later, Thabang Mahlangu nearly capitalized on Amajita’s first real incursion up front when goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt misjudged an inswinger, but captain Daniel Bameyi cleared the ball away from danger.
Arierhi, always in the thick of the action, blasted another Jephta cross over the bar in the 37th minute, and two minutes later, after turning his marker, saw his shot deflected away from goal.
On the hour mark, Nigeria lost their dependable goalkeeper Harcourt to injury, and a minute later, substitute goalkeeper Ajia Yakub nearly bungled a simple cross with Kgomotso Madiba lurking for an error.
The mistake came five minutes later, as Yakub again misjudged a pull-out, and defender Tylon Smith rose above him to head into the net.
Opportunities fell to substitutes Mendos Rickson and Auwal Ibrahim later on, but the Flying Eagles could not find an equalizer and must now face the loser of the second semi-final (between hosts Egypt and Morocco) for the bronze medal on Sunday.
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