Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

Nigeria became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in Vina Del Mar, with Victor Osimhen scoring his record-breaking tenth goal of Chile 2015.

Read the full match report below;

Nigeria's Golden Eaglets will battle Mali in the final of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Eaglets have never lost to an African nation in the tournament. 

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

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Two teams from the same confederation will face each other in the final the tournament for the first time in 22 years and ten editions of the tournament. Ghana and Nigeria met in the final, back in 1993.

Sunday's game will mark the first time a Malian side has reached the final of any FIFA tournament. After the country’s third-place finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand a few months ago, coach Baye Ba’s squad have gone one step further in Chile.

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup
Kelechi Nwakali and Abdoul Dante, the captains of Nigeria and Mali

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Nigeria's head-to-head record between the two nations’ senior sides is four wins, three draws and just one defeat. In youth football, Nigeria have lost once to Mali. In the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999, the Golden Eaglets were defeated in the quarter-finals 3-1.

The referee for the match is England's Micheal Oliver.

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen is one to watch ahead of this final. The striker has nine goals in the tournament and could make it ten if he scores against Mali.

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup
Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring

Osimhen has matched the exploits of Coulibaly and Sinama-Pongolle in scoring nine goals in the tournament, but could go one better if he strikes tonight.

Another Eaglet to watch is Kelechi Nwakali who has played like a true midfield general. The youngster has three goals and three assists to his name.

Striker Funsho Bamgboye is back from suspension and could replace Orji Okonkwo in the side.

 

FT: Nigeria are champions of the world. Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye scored within three minutes of each other to give NIgeria her record 5th U-17 world cup.

Oshimen scored his record 1oth goal of the tournament while Funsho Bamgboye scored his first goal of the mundial.

90' three minutes of added time

87' Mali try a shot on goal, but it is off-target...in this closing stages Mali have look more dangerous

82' Bamgboye is fouled and the attacker stays down as he was kick on the ankle

80' SUB: Chukwueze comes off, Orji Okonkwo comes on

78' Offside against Funsho Bamgboye

76' SAVE BY UDOH!!! The Golden Eaglets goalie does well to deny Hiadara a goal buy diving low to block the striker's shot

75' MAMADY (in) comes off the bench to replace KOITA (out) (Mali)

74' Anumudu's cross cum shot from the right is well held by the Mali goalie

72' Enogela concedes a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Mali.

70' SORY I. (in) comes off the bench to replace MAIGA (out) (Mali)

70' Bamgboye shoots but the Mali goalie handles easily

69' Mali looking tired and mentally drained with those two quick goals by Nigeria

62' HAIDARA MO. (in) comes off the bench to replace DIAKITE (out) (Mali)

59' GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Funsho Bamgboye scores his first goal of the tournament. Nigeria 2 - 0 Mali. Osimhen capitalizes on a mistake by the Mali goalie and feeds Bamgboye who strikes at the near post

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

56' GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Osimhen scores. Nigeria 1 - 0 Mali. Osimhen is now the record scorer in this tournament with 10 goals. No player has managed more in the history of the tournament

54'  WOODWORK!!! Amunudu tries a cracker from close to 25 yards out...the woodwork come to the Malian rescue

53' SHOT!!! Osimhen half volleys a stray ball from outside the box but the keeper punches out for a corner

51' WEAK SHOT!!! Chukwueze does well to rob a defender off the ball and advances towards the goalie but his shot is too weak

50' Mali try and attacking move but Zakari is aware of the danger and clears

49' SAVE!!! Chukwueze plays in Osimhen but the goalie is quickly out of his line to pick up

47' Nigeria earns a corner and all Malians are in the box to defend...corner cleared and a foul is later committed...freekick Mali

46' Second half kicks off

45+ HT - The referee does not give extra time and blows for half time

44' Nwakali does well to stop Hiadara's attack

41' Osimhen volleys!!!! The competition's top scorer is found by Bamgboye and he volleys at goal. The Mali goalie has to make a world class save to palm away the attempt

39' Ikwu does well to rob Koita off the ball

37' Yellow card for Nigeria's David Enoghela

35' Osimhen does well to rob a defender off the ball...the striker feeds Bamgboye but his shot is double defelcted out for a corner. Nwakali takes it but Mali clears

35' Nigeria have been second best so far in this game with the Malians literally camping in the Eaglets half

34' Traore tries a shot from out wide but its just over

32' OVERHEAD KICK!!! Hiadara tries an overhead kick from the edge of the box but Udoh watches it go wide of the mark

30' SAVE!!! Akpan Udoh makes a world class save for the Eaglets to push over Traore's header from six yards out

28' The game has been entertaining so far. No clear cut chances yet but both teams have threatened with good pace on the attack

26' Nigeria commit a foul as Mali attack

24' DEFENSIVE CLEARANCE!!! Osimhen does well to skin a defender on the right and crosses but his pass cannot find Chukwwueze as the Mali defens clears for a corner. The subsequent corner is headed away

22' SAVE!!! Mali awarded a corner, its swung it but cleared easily. The ball drops to Fofana's feet but the cross into the box is met by Udoh

20' SHOT!!! Nwakali takes a shot but its off target

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

18' Mali awarded a free kick close to the box after Enogela fouls a striker

16' Nigeria having more of the possession now...Lazarus mishits a cross and it rolls out for a goal kick

14' Anumudu takes a long throw and Chato heads out for Mali...Nwakali takes the corner but the corner is cleared

12' Bamgboye is fouled by a Malian...Nigeria try to settle as the opponents are having more of the ball at this moment

10' Zakari's long clearance finds Osimhen offside

9' Dante bullies Osimhen off the ball during a counter and the Malian counter but the ball to Fofana is too far...Nigeria's defence clears

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

 

6' CHANCE!!! Eaglets goalie Udoh comes out to clear a ball but Hiadara is there and the ball ricochets off him...Nigeria survive

5' Osimhen tries to dribble two defenders but he is rebuffed

5' left-back Lazarus is forced into conceding a throw in

3' Ebere misses the penalty, his rebound hits the bar..Mali try to clear ad force Nigeria into committing a foul

2' PENALTY!!! A Malian defender is penalised for handling a ball in the box...Ebere to take

1' kick off...Nigeria kick off

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Khadijah Thabit avatar

Khadijah Thabit (Copyeditor) Khadijah Thabit is an editor with over 3 years of experience editing and managing contents such as articles, blogs, newsletters and social leads. She has a BA in English and Literary Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Khadijah joined Legit.ng in September 2020 as a copyeditor and proofreader for the Human Interest, Current Affairs, Business, Sports and PR desks. As a grammar police, she develops her skills by reading novels and dictionaries. Email: khadeeejathabit@gmail.com