U17 World Cup : Nigeria beat Sweden to reach final


The Golden Eaglets have made it to the Final of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup after beating Sweden 3-0 at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday evening.

The initial meeting between both sides in the group stage ended in a 3-3 draw, so the Golden Eaglets came into the encounter wary of the potential of their opponents.

Nigeria started the game in an expectedly explosive fashion, with both Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi coming close with shots on target inside the first five minutes. Yahaya also tested the Swedish goalkeeper with a palm-stinging shot from outside the box in the 11th minute.

Awoniyi gave Nigeria a deserved lead in the 21st minute, after running a brilliantly lofted pass from Iheanacho.

Chidera Ezeh fluffed a chance to extend Nigeria's lead on the half hour mark after wasting a good delivery from the team's skipper Musa Mohammed.

Nigeria were denied a chance to extend their lead in the 32th minute, as the referee ignored calls for a penalty after a Swedish player handled the ball inside their vital area.

However Engvall called Alampasu to duty at the other end with a rasping shot in the 36th minute, but Nigeria carried their one-goal advantage into the break.

The Eaglets resumed the second half with more bite with Ezeh coming close to doubling Nigeria's lead, only to see his diving header come off the post, as he blazed the rebound over the bar.

The Swedes threatened Nigeria with some well swung free-kicks which were properly dealt with by Alampasu and the Nigerian defence.

Samuel Okon doubled Nigeria's lead in the 80th minute, after racing into the Swedish box from the left flank before firing past Suxten Mohlin.

Celebrations of Okon's doubler had hardly died down when Ezeh tapped in from close range to score Nigeria's third on the Night, and book their place in the final were they will face Mexico who they defeated 6-1 in their opening game.

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