Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Fall To Junior Pharaohs

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria today fell to the Junior Pharaohs of Egypt in a semi-final clash by a 2-0 margin, dashing the hope of the Eaglets’ title defence in the on-going African Youth Championship.

The Junior Pharaohs of Egypt proved to be the more organised side as forward man, Mahmoud Abdel-Moneam Kahrab, a who plays for ENPPI strategically sliced the Flying Eagles by scoring both goals which earned Egypt a place in the finals and the Flying Eagles playing for the third place on Friday.

The Flying Eagles did not go down without fighting as they took control of the game from the beginning of the whistle with dazzling moves.

Abduljeleel Ajagun got close to making something out of the buzz but for Mossad Awad’s quick response.

The game changer came for Egypt from the second half as the pressure mounted on the defending champions paid off as Omar Bassam’s free kick into the path of Egypt forward man Kahraba could not be obstructed and it made straight for the net with Nigeria not able to deflect the ball.

After the first goal for Egypt, pressure was again piled against the Flying Eagles as chances after chances were missed by the Junior Pharaohs of Egypt even though the Flying Eagles came close to equalising in the 52^nd minute with an effort from Olarenwaju Kayode after he successfully displaced the man on him. However, Egypt would be grateful to Awad who was again on the ground to knock off the goal-bound effort.

The effort against the Flying Eagles yielded result, however, in the dying minute as an unmarked Kahraba was left alone again to further worsen the woes of the Flying Eagles during a set-pieces and Kahraba finished with an header past Nigeria’s goalkeeper 9 minutes to end of the game.

A lost opportunity for the Flying Eagles to record an amazing comeback into the game was not put to use by substitute Bright Ejike 6 minutes to the end of the game as he failed to convert an open chance after he shrugged off Awad from his track but was stopped by the Egyptian goalkeeper. It was the same Awad who stopped Ejike’s second opportunity at goal after he fired a low-powered shot at the Egyptian goal area.