Nigeria Secure Semi-Final Berth, One Step Into Rio Olympics

Nigeria’s Dream Team VI have qualified for
the semi-final at the ongoing U-23 African
Nations Cup in Senegal. Nigeria and Algeria
are through to the next stage after both
teams played 0 – 0 in their third group game.
Read our live coverage of the game between
Nigeria and Algeria below.
Nigeria’s Dream Team will file out against
the Fennec Foxes of Algeria in a must win
encounter at the on-going U-23 Africa Cup of
Nations in Senegal.
A win for any of the teams will automatically
take them to the semi-finals as well as
qualify them for the football event at the Rio
Olympics in 2016.
Dream Team VI XI vs Algeria: Daniel E. Seth
S Oduduwa S. Amaefule T. Ndifreke E.
Azubuike O. Godspower A. Usman M. Kufre
E. Etebo O. Junior A
FT: Algeria 0 – 0 Nigeria. Both teams qualify
for the semi-finals behind Algeria in second
place
90+ MISSED CHANCE!!! Algeria counter after
a Nigeria freekick, Ferhat feeds Ben Arham on
the right but the wingers left footed shot is
just wide
85′ The referee has to stop the game
because Tiongoli is down injured, other
players drop to the turf…tired legs out there
82′ Yellow card for Okechukwu Azubuike…if
Nigeria makes it to the semi-final, he would
be suspended
81′ SAVED SHOT!!! The Algerian goalie does
well to push Etebo’s stinging left footed
cross behind the post…Algeria survive
78′ CLEARED!!! Junior Ajayi’s low cross is
cleared by Ben when it looked like Taiwo
Awoniyi would be tapping into an empty net
76′ Still goalless…Nigeria show better solidity
in defence than in previous matches
72′ Tiongoli goes down under a challenge in
the box but the referee says he went down
too theatrically though there was contact
69′ Junior Ajayi involved in a heated
exchange with a player on the left after he is
roughly taken down
66′ Ferhat again at the thick of things. He
starts a move on the right hand side which
involves nice one touch football but his cross
is over hit for any one in the box
60′ Nigeria SUBS: Taiwo Awoniyi comes on,
Kufre comes off
57′ The match is looking evenly balanced but
the Algerians have looked more threatening
especially since Ferhat moved to the left
hand side to torture Seth Sincere
54′ Nigeria SUBS: Tiongoli on, Godspower off
52′ The Freekicck from the foul is played in
by Ferhat but it is easily caught
51′ Captain Azubuike is penalised for a foul
on an opposition player
48′ GOOD RUN by Ferhat on the right. The
Algerian beats two players for pace on the
right flank but his final cross is blocked by
Azubuike
47′ GOOD COMBO’S!!! Junior Ajayi plays two
consecutive one-two’s but his cross to
Godspower is over hit
47′ Algeria start the second half well and
they whip in two crosses from the left,
46′ Second half kicks off
HT: Algeria 0 – 0 Nigeria, Mali leading Egypt
1 – 0 in the other group game…If the scores
remain this way, Nigeria and Algeria qualify
for the semi-final
45+ One minute of added time given and
Nigeria are having all the possession
44′ Etebo does well to block off an attacker
who was attempting to get to a long pass
42′ The Algerian captain taken off the pitch
for treatment after Sincere clatters unto him,
the Flying Eagle ma is lucky to still be on the
pitch
39′ An attacking movee from Godspower,
Etebo and Ajayi is easily cleared, Algeria
attack but a loose pass ends their attacking
move
38′ Algeria’s most dangerous attacking player
so far; Ferhat is brought down close to the
touchline near the halfway line, he wants a
card for Usman Mohammed which is not
forthcoming
35′ Nigeria have not created one clear cut
chance whilee the opposition have created
three
32′ WHAT A SAVE!!! The Algerian goalie does
well to not only block Etebo’s free kick but to
keep it in play and hold unto it
30′ Junior Ajayi is fouled just at the edge of
the box…a good position to take a free kick
25′ Nigeria with 60% of the possession so far
20′ Algeria have started very strong in this
game as their starman Zinedine Fehrat wins
a corner but it comes to nothing.
16′ Dream Team VI keeps knocking the ball
around with no real purpose as they lose
possession unnecessarily.
13′ A chance for Nigerian to take the lead,
goalkeeper Abdelkadir Salhi parries for a
Nigerian corner.
12′ The Nigerian defenders need to be up an
doing as they seem lost for a second time.
Algeria lurking around.
10′ Kufre couldn’t control the long ball to him
on the left flank as both teams look to
unlock the defense of each other.
8′ Nigeria wins a throw-in deep into the
Algerian area. Etebo takes it, as the Algerian
defence clears the danger.
6′ Algeria with the first clear chance to take
the lead….shot blocked. Amaefule was in the
right position.
5′ Ajayi’s run down the right flank was
repelled. Nigeria seem to have settled into
the game.
3′ Both teams are taking it easy as this
encounter is so crucial, as Nigeria wins a
freekick in the centre circle.
1′ The game is on as Algeria wins their first
corner just 24 seconds into the game.