Nigeria's Golden Eaglets have emerged champions of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile after defeating Mali 2-0.
The Cup triumph means that the Nigerians have successfully defended the title they won two years ago in the UAE.
Two
quickfire second half goals from Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye
ensured that Emmanuel Amuneke's men cruised to victory as Nigeria
claimed their fifth world title at under-17 level.
The
Nigerians should have gone in front in the fourth minute of the game but
Osinachi Ebere's spot kick was saved by the Malian goalkeeper, Samuel
Diarra, after Chato handled the ball in his box.
Ebere had a second
bite on the cherry to score from Diarra's save but his header just
grazed the crossbar and bounced back into play before the Malian
goalkeeper then claimed the ball later.
Boubacar Traore then forced Nigeria goalkeeper Akpan Udoh into making a big save.
The
Malians made life a bit difficult for Nigeria by pressing them very
high and that denied the world champions the chance to express
themselves.
The defending champions were always second best when it
came to the second balls as the Malians looked quicker in winning the
ball in such battles.
The high-pressing Malians reduced Nigeria with
trying from range as Kelechi Nwakali produced a screamer but saw it go
off target though Diarra had his goal covered.
Funsho Bamgboye
should have given Nigeria the lead with eight minutes to the break but
his headed attempt was cleared for a corner after superb work from
Samuel Chukwueze.
Just before the break, the tournament leading
scorer Osimhen had his first real attempt at goal and though the effort
of the Nigerian striker looked to be heading off target, Diarra refused
to be caught unawares as he sprawled on the turf to turn the ball away
to safety.
The Golden Eaglets started the second 45 minutes better as
Chukwueze and Osimhen made Diarra pull off two saves within eight
minutes of the restart.
The champions continued to dominate and it was Udochukwu Anumudu's turn to have a go at the Malians.
Nigeria
opened score in the 56th minute and it had to be Osimhen who rifled the
ball past Diarra from Chinedu Madueke's low cross.
The goal was
Osimhen's 10th of the tournament and it meant the 16-year-old forward
has set a new record of scoring the most goals in a single Fifa Under-17
World Cup edition.
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