Nigeria have progressed to the semi-finals of the 2015 African Beach
Soccer Championship in Seychelles after beating Ivory Coast 7-6 in
their last group game on Thursday.
The win meant that the Super Sand Eagles managed a 100 per cent
victory run in the group stage of the tournament.
But the Nigerians were made to work for the win by the Ivorians as the
game dragged into overtime after it was tied at 6-6 at the end of the
third period.
The Sand Eagles had Godspower Igudia sent off in the first period and
that handed Ivory Coast the numerical advantage.
The Ivorians had beaten Nigeria twice in their previous meetings at
the last edition of the African tournament and at last year's Copa
Lagos.
Kablan Aka was the main figure for the Ivorians as the forward tore in
the Nigerian defence time and time again.
The Ivorians went into the lead and Nigeria evened the score, but it
was the final period that produced an interesting match-up.
Kablan had helped Ivory Coast by contributing three of the goals that
ensured the game stood at 6-6 after full time of three periods.
Captain Isiaka Olawale, Abu Azeez, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Emeka Ogbonna
and Taiwo Adams scored for Nigeria. Olawale scored twice inside full
time when the score stood at 6-6.
However, it was the free-scoring Ogbonna who broke the hearts of the
Ivorians by scoring the winning goal in overtime to see off the
resistance of their West African neighbours.
The Sand Eagles will confront Group B runners-up in the semi-finals on Saturday.
--PUNCH
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