event of the 2015 All Africa Games yesterday as they beat hosts Zambia
2-1.
WAY TO NEW ZEALAND: Taiwo Awoniyi points the way to New Zealand 2015
after scoring against Congo yesterday.
Both teams played out a 0-0 draw in Abuja three weeks ago for
Nigeria's Dream Team VI to go through 2-1 on aggregate.
On Sunday, Zambia attacked from the onset and created several chances,
but it was 17-year-old Awoniyi, drafted into the team for this return
match, who put the visitors ahead on 34 minutes.
Zambia continued to pile on the pressure and they were rewarded in the
76th with the equaliser through substitute Friday Samu from close
range after he was set up by Shederack Malambo.
However, Awoniyi put this encounter beyond the Zambians with just
minutes to spare with his second strike.
Two minutes after Awoniyi's winner, goalkeeper Daniel denied Zambia a
second equaliser as he tipped Moses Phiri's effort over the bar for a
corner.
Mukuka Mulenga and Malambo were torn in Nigeria's flesh and within the
first 20 minutes they forced two corner kicks and several goal
attempts.
In the 22nd minute, Sodiq Atanda Ololade almost put Nigeria ahead when
his header off a corner kick flew wide.
A minute later, Zambia were unlucky as an effort at goal came off the post.
In the 50th minute, Ronald Kampamba shot wide from close range.
In the 56th minute, goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel made a daring save off
Samu's strike to keep Nigeria ahead 1-0.
The second half was a different ball game as Nigeria got into the
groove with Azubuike Okechukwu and Kingsley Sokari in control of the
midfield.
Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the last AAG, will now join Burkina
Faso and Sudan in the eight-team competition in September.
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