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With an unrelenting drive for goals, Nigeria’s junior national team, the Under-23 Eagles over came initial misses occasioned by hard luck and finally overran the Junior Libya national team with a 4-0 drubbing in a breath-taking encounter at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta state this evening in the African U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 of the Confederation of African Football tournament.
The players commenced the encounter with tension and high expectation from the Nigerian that was already two goals down in a previous away encounter in Libya. But 15 minutes into the game, Nigeria’s Taiwo Awoniyi missed what would have been curtain raiser for Nigeria as he pushed the ball into touch for a goal kick instead of playing it into the Libyan net.
Moments later, Kelechi Nwakali’s spot-kick hit the goal post of the opponents and bounced back into the field of play. However, Victor Osimhen put Nigeria into the lead for the first goal of the match.
Yet another spot-kick by Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze hit the top of the Libyan side goal post and went into touch for a goal kick to Libya.
The Libyan goal-keeper earned a yellow card for his over indulgence in delay tactics. And Nigeria’s second goal came shortly after the second half resumed, in a goal mouth scramble and in the 66th minute through Victor Osimhem, and in the 82nd minute of play, he scored the hat-trick for Nigeria.
As the game continued, the Libyan team that was playing for time and using delay tactics at every opportunity, suddenly realized that defeat stares them in the face tried to come into the game, but every of their efforts were challenged by the Eagles who bombarded their goal area with pressure.
The Eagles’ pressure paid off when a back pass from Victor Osimhen was beautifully converted by David Okereke who plays for the Italian club, Spezia finally sealing the hope of the Libyans with the fourth goal.
By this match the U-23 Eagles have moved on to the next stage of the African football encounter.