Nigeria U17 team marched to their eight Federation Internationale de Football Association U17 World Cup final after surviving the Mexicans scare in a thrilling 4-2 encounter played at the Estadio Municipal Ester Roa, Concepcion on Friday morning.
Advertisement
A moment of dismay by Emmanuel Amuneke’s boys cost them a goal in the seventh minute after Kevin Lara delivered a tongue-in-cheek cross into the middle.
Not too long, Ebere gave the Eaglets the lead.
Mexico found life in the 59th minute when Diego Cortes dribbled through the entirety of the Nigerian defense and capped off his run with an impressive finish to put El Tri on level terms.
The “Golden Eaglets” led by their talisman striker Victor Osimhen have a real shot to keep the trophy for another two years.
John Lazarus was taken down in the Mexicans 18-yard box thereby paving the way for Osimhen to score a penalty in the 83rd minute and consolidated Nigeria’s victory.
With this, the stage is now set for an all-African final, as Mali earlier reached their first ever Federation Internationale de Football Association U-17 World Cup final courtesy of an astonishing come-from-behind 3-1 victory against Belgium.
Despite the five minutes additional time given, there was no coming back for Mexico as Nigeria effectively booked her place in the finals for the eighth time since first participating in the 1985 edition.
Advertisement
Mexico and Belgium square off for the bronze medal, while Mali and Nigeria lock horns in an All-African Final on Sunday evening.
