The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria this evening in Brazil posted a superlative performance to fly straight into the round of 16 of the world U17 soccer championship via a hilarious hat trick from the boots of Ibrahim Said which is the first Hat trick of the tournament. A hat trick means scoring three goals in a single match.
Like the encounter with Hungary, the Ecuadorians drew the first blood in 5 minutes of play but Nigeria kept pressurizing. The same manner they scored three goals within six minutes against Hungary Nigeria down with 1-2 and less than ten minutes to go scored the equalizer and the winner. Nigeria 3 Ecuador 2 it ended in group B.
It was a pulsating moment and the Ecuadorians could not believe it when Ref. Khamis Al-Marri from Qatar blew off the match after awarding five minutes of injury time. The Ecuador second goal obtained via a penalty awarded by the VAR was controversial as the defender hit the ball and not the leg but Nigerians came back to cancel the deficit
The third match between Nigeria and Australia on Friday is a formality as Nigeria has gotten six full points to book a place in the round of 16 already.
My contact with Australia said they were relying on my stringing reports to Australia as nobody was interested in Football in that country. “Sir, they are not even aware their country is playing a football tournament in Brazil. They are more interested in Rugby, swimming and Tennis” he told me as Nigeria went into half time with Ecuador. I learnt that Australia has no supporters team in Brazil.
In the other match, Angola scored a 90’ surprise to compound the woes of Canada in Group A as Z. Luvumba made it 2-1. Angola is waiting for Brazil to be the second team to qualify for the round of 16. Angola appearing for the first time had beaten New Zealand 2-1.
Matches for the second round in groups A and B will be concluded at midnight.
- ENIOLA OLATUNJI.
