The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday emerged champions of the 2011 African Youth Championship after a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Young Lions of Cameroun.
It is the sixth time the Flying Eagles will be crowned champions of Africa and also their first AYC title since 2005.
Sunday’s win also means that the Nigerians head into July’s FIFA World Cup in Colombia as African champions.
The Nigerians however, made things tough for themselves after squandering a two-goal lead in the match which was played at the Dobsonville Stadium, in Soweto.
With a quarter of an hour left on the clock, Olanrewaju Kayode opened scoring for the Flying Eagles with a shot from inside the Camerounian area following an error from the Young Lions’ defence.
And when Uche Nwofor converted from the penalty spot after Kayode was brought down by Young Lions goalkeeper, Komguep Efala four minutes later, the Nigerians probably thought they were home and dry.
Fightback
But with eight minutes left on the clock, the Camerounians, like wounded lions, fought back and pulled back two goals within the space of two minutes with Franck Ohandza leading the fight back for his side.
The Thailand based striker, who grabbed the only goal of the game when both sides met in the group stage of the tournament, ran into the area and turned his marker, Gbenga Arokoyo inside-out before slamming the ball off the underside of Danjuma Paul’s crossbar.
Two minutes later, Edgar Salli, brought the Young Lions back on level terms with the Flying Eagles with an unstoppable drive from inside the Nigerian area after some sloppy defending by Ganiyu Ogungbe, who uncharacteristically headed the ball onto the path of the Camerounian forward.
The game then drifted into extra time, but it was the Nigerians that were to have the last laugh, when substitute Terry Envoh dribbled his way into the Camerounian area in the second minute of extra time, to score what turned out to be the match-winning goal.
It was a deserved victory for the Nigerians who were for the greater part of Sunday’s encounter the better side.
Kayode’s show
John Obuh’s side also had far more chances than the Camerounians and came close to going ahead in the 11th minute through Kayode. But the ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire youngster, following a cross from the right by Nwofor, headed the ball onto the crossbar much to the delight of Efala who was rooted to the spot.
And with two minutes to the end of the first half, Kayode found some space in the Camerounian area only to smash his shot onto the side netting with Efala at his mercy.
The Camerounians also had chances of their own and Salli proved more than a handful for the Nigerian defence with his powerful runs and mazy dribbles. But the Nigerians always looked the more likelier to score, and deservedly went ahead in the 75th minute when Kayode latched onto an error by the Camerounian defence, ran into the area before slamming the ball past an onrushing Efala.
Four minutes later, Efala was slow in coming off his line and brought Kayode down in the area for a penalty, which Nwofor dispatched with ease to grab his fourth goal of the tournament, and thus overtake South Africa’s Lucky Nguzana on the scorers’ chart.
Then came two goals in as many minutes by the Camerounians, before Terry Envoh, who took the place of the injured Abduljeleel Ajagun on the dot of 90 minutes, dribbled his way past the tiring Camerounian defence, before calmly slotting the ball under the onrushing Efala for the cup-winning goal.
It wasn’t over yet though as the Camerounians adopted a gung-ho approach and could had pulled back on level terms once again but for impressive saves by the Nigerian goalie.
Not even a 113th minute red card to Kayode for a second bookable offence could deny the Nigerians a deserved victory as they now set their sights on Colombia.
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