Nigeria Monday morning extended their dominance at U17 level when they won a fifth World Cup by beating fellow West Africans Mali 2-0 in Chile.
Nigeria’s other conquests at this level were achieved in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013.
But Monday’s triumph was the first achieved outside Asia and they are now only the second team after Brazil to successfully defend the trophy
Two second half goals by Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye were all the Golden Eaglets needed against Mali last night to retain the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile.
The Emmanuel Amuneke tutored lads left no one in doubt of their capacity to retain the trophy the Eaglets class of 2013 won in the United Arabs Emirates. Osimhen with tournament record of ten goals was the show stopper on the Nigerian side as he scored in virtually all the matches played by the Eaglets.
Smooth-playing Eaglets captain Kelechi Nwakali was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, as Osimhen also picked up the Second Best Player award alongside the Top Scorer’s Golden Boot. Mali’s Aly Malle was third best.
As early as the fourth minute of the all-Africa final game of the 2015 edition of this cadet World Cup, Nigeria earned a deserved penalty kick when Malian defender, Chato handled the ball in the box. But Osinachi Ebere’s low kick was saved by Samuel Diarra in goal for Mali. Ebere’s follow up header bounced off the cross bar before a third kick was block by another Malian defender.
Both sides had chances in a tense opening period, with Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali hitting just wide and Boubacar Traore seeing his glancing header tipped over by Akpan Udoh.
The second half saw the game burst into life, with Amuneke’s words clearly working their magic on the Nigerian youngsters.
Osimhen shrugged off the challenge of Mamadou Fofana before hitting a wonderful dipping half volley towards goal, which Diarra spectacularly saved. Udochukwu Anumudu then smashed a thunderous effort at goal, which rebounded back off the crossbar and was cleared away.
Mali did not heed those warnings. Good approach play by substitute Chinedu Madueke saw him tee up Osimhen for his record-breaking goal, seeing him surpass the nine goals scored by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2001 and Souleymane Coulibaly ten years later.
Eaglets doubled their advantage mere minutes later, with Bamgboye bursting down the Nigerian left before smashing a powerful effort at goal, Diarra standing little chance.
Despite a couple of late chances for Mali, from corner kicks, Nigeria retained possession for large spells and saw the game out to retain their crown.
In the third place match played earlier, ten-man Belgium finished third after a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Mexico in Vina del Mar.
Dennis Van Vaerenbergh opened the scoring for the Belgians before a Ricardo Marin penalty levelled matters moments later with Dante Vanzeir’s wonderful chip cancelled out by Francisco Venegas’s late leveller. Vanzeir then kept his cool in stoppage time to seal third place.
There were two clear-cut opportunities in the opening exchanges of the game, first with Belgium and then Mexico failing to capitalise. Vanzeir burst clear of the Mexican defence, after a slip by Francisco Venegas, but he sliced his effort wide.
Claudio Zamudio then found himself in space behind the Belgian defence, but Gaetan Coucke, making his first appearance of the finals, saved well with his feet.
Van Vaerenbergh and the ever-dangerous Pablo Lopez each went close, but neither side could break the deadlock in a tight opening period.
The European side were first to strike, with Vanzeir once more showing his pace and trickery down the Belgian right wing. The Genk player picked up the ball close to the halfway line and took on a number of Mexican defenders before forcing his way into the penalty area. He found Van Vaerenbergh in space inside the six yard box and the tall No9 made no mistake, slotting home for his first of the tournament.
Mexico were given an opportunity to level moments later. Kevin Lara cut inside from the Mexican right and hit a left-footed effort at goal which was blocked by Wout Faes’ hand. Substitute Marin stepped up and calmly sent Coucke the wrong way for his first goal of Chile 2015.
