BY Victor Akhidenor
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have qualified for the African Under 17 Championship after thrashing Gabon 5-0 at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
The Emmanuel Amuneke side lost the first leg in Libreville 2-1, but have now qualified 6-2 aggregate to secure a ticket to championship to be hosted in Niger between February 15 and March 1, 2015.
Ebere Osinachi and Kehinde Ayinde scored two goals each after captain Kelechi Nwakali put the team ahead from the penalty spot.
From the blast of the whistle, the Eaglets went in search of an early goal but the Gabonese were able to withstand the pressure.
They eventually caved in when Kingsley Michael was brought down in the box after being played through by Suleiman Abdullahi.
Captain Kelechi Nwakali stepped up and scored the resultant penalty kick, sending goalkeeper Noubi Fotso the other way for Nigeria’s first goal in the 19th minute.
The second goal duly came 11 minutes later.
Samuel Chukwueze’s pull out from the right flank found Ebere Osinachi, who wasted no time in blasting the ball in the net.
Gabon almost pulled a goal back, but their effort was saved by Eaglets’ goalkeeper, Akpan Udoh, who stopped Presley Babini Bouyi goal-bound shot in the 37th minute.
Osinachi’s solo run five minutes to half time after a pass from Chukwueze led to the third goal, as his angular shot flew beyond Fotso.
The Eaglets continued were they stopped in the second half but it was the Gabonese who almost scored when Babani Bouyi’s shot hit the post with the keeper firmly rooted to the spot in the 50th minute.
Kehinde Ayinde came in for injured Michael to grab Nigeria’s fourth and fifth goals in the 78th and 90th to wrap up proceedings at the U.J. Esuene Stadium.
Golden Eaglets lineup
Udoh, Muhammed, Ayodeji (Lukman 60th), Uzama, Usman, Ipalibo, Nwakali, Michael (Ayinde 22nd), Abdullahi, Chukwueze (Orji 86th), Osinachi
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