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.
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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.
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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.
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
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
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
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
