Nigeria: Flying Eagles Crash Land Against France

15 August 2011
allAfrica.com

Nigeria's Flying Eagles - Africa's last hope at the Fifa Under 20 World Cup championships - were knocked out in the quarter finals by France, reports FIFA.com.

The young Nigerians went down 3-2 after the match went into extra time.

Three of the match's goals were scored in extra time.

The Fifa report suggested that "the additional 30-minute period appears not to suit the Flying Eagles," noting that in the 2007 quarter finals, Nigeria also lost in extra time.

Substitutes played a big role in the match, scoring four goals and making three assists.

"Ejike made a spectacular impact in his first appearance of the tournament," reported FIFA.com. "Joining the fray two minutes into injury time with his side 1-0 down, Ejike found the net within a minute with a neat header from fellow sub Uche Nwofor's pass, thus scoring the quickest goal by a substitute at Colombia 2011 and taking the match into extra time."

Ejike again scored in extra time. The Fifa website reported that local fans in Colombia backed the Nigerian side, giving the Eagles a standing ovation at the end of the match. "The local fans even gathered to applaud the African squad when boarding their team coach afterwards," it reported. "Clearly adopted by the public, did the cowboy hat sported by coach John Obuh have anything to do with their popularity?"

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