Kumasi (Greater Accra) 23 Feb '99

The Flying Eaglets of Nigeria beat their Guinean counterparts, Siyli National 4-3 in the second group "B" match of the 11th African Under-20 championships played in Kumasi on Monday. The match lived up to expectation and though the Guineans lost they endeared themselves to the spectators with their swift, crisp and free-flowing football.

The Flying Eaglets kicked-off and earned a corner under a minute and the resultant kick found Guinean goalkeeper Conde Abdoulaye fumbling for skipper Musa Abubakar to score the opening goal. Unperturbed by this early set back, the Guineans attacked and put the Flying Eagles defence under severe pressure but the Nigerians withstood the storm and came close to socring in the sixth minute when centre forward Sani Aminu's connection from right winger Pius Ikedia's cross went wide.

The Guineans fought back and left winger Youla Souleymane tore the Nigerians defence into ribbons but his shot at goal missed narrowly. The Nigerians made it 2-0 in the 12th minute through Babangida Haruna after taking a solo run down the middle to beat goalkeeper Abdoulaye. Barely two minutes after this goal, Guinea reduced the tally through Bangoura Ousmane after collecting a through pass from Camara Mohamed.

The game then became balanced with both sides missing chances but it was Nigeria who got a third goal in the 29th minute through Musa Abubakar to register his personal second. Nigeria kept the heat on their opponents and in the 33rd minute, Babangida Haruna went through the Guinean defence with ease but hit the side netting.

Guinea took over and also missed narrowly in the 36th minute when Sankhon Mohamed shot over the bar from close range. However, they atoned for their mistakes when on the stroke of half time, Sankhon Mohamed connected home a cross from the left flank The Guineans resumed the second half on a fast note and in the 65th minute Pascal Feindouno broke loose from the left but goalkeeper Sam Okoye came out in time to save the situation.

As the Guineans were beginning to stamp their authority on the game, the Nigerians scored their fourth goal against the run of play in the 76th minute through Joseph Yobo. He had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty net after goalkeeper Andoulaye fumbled and fell in an attempt to save the ball but Babangida lifted it over his head for Yobo to push it into the net. Nigeria pulled out Pius Ikedia for Lawal Muyiwa in the 83rd minute but it was the Guineans, who got their third goal in the 85th minute through Bagoura Ousmane.

The goal gingered the Guineans into more action as they pinned the Nigerians into their own half, fighting hard for the equaliser but to no rpt no avail. Nigeria made a last minute desperate move to increase their tally as Sam Aminu made a solo effort into their opponents' vital area but goalkeeper Abdoulaye saved the situation.