COTE D'IVOIRE DEFEATED NIGERIA AGAIN

Golden Eaglets of Nigeria was once again defeated by their Ivorian counterparts at the final of the just concluded U-17 African Cup.

The Ivorians had defeated the Golden Eaglets at the group stage of the competition.

The Golden Eaglets took  the lead eight minutes into the game through Prince Omego to raise hope that they will not only revenge their defeat but crush the young Elephants like they did to other teams on their way to the final.

However, the hard-fighting young Elephants took the game to the Nigerian lads and it paid off in the 26th minute when they equalised through Chris  Bile Bedia to send their camp wild with jubilation.

Nigeria went down to ten men in the 73rd minute when defender Akinjide Idowu ‘s challenge on Aboubacar Keita with a raised arm got him sent off but the  Eaglets  made changes and kept on the pressure as a see-saw battle ensued.

The contest could not provide a winner and it was left to a penalty shoot-out to settle the matter and the Ivorians scored all their five penalties through Kessie, Diallo Ismael, Angban, Keita and Dogbole Niangbo who scored the winning penalty after Chidiebere Nwakali has missed for Nigeria. Success, Ifeanyi Mathew, Yahaya and Musa Muhammed converted their kicks for the Eaglets.