Golden Eaglets crash out of 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup – TheNigerialawyer

Five-time champions, Nigeria bid bye to the 2019 FIFA U17 World
Cup finals in Brazil after losing 3-1 to late bloomers Netherlands
in their Round of 16 clash in Goiania in a match that finished in
the early hours of Wednesday in Nigeria.

The Dutch lost their first two matches of the competition and
only got into the knockout stage thanks to their 4-0 defeat of USA
in their final group phase encounter, while Nigeria topped Group B
following wins over Hungary and Ecuador and shock defeat to
Australia.

The Golden Eaglets’ untidy habit of conceding early in their
games proved ill –advised this time, as Sontje Hansen scored in the
fourth minute and then followed up with two more goals to render
Olakunle Olusegun’s goal from a blistering shot in the 12th minute
of no effect.

A game of very high intensity at the Estadio Olimpico was
decided by tactical awareness, silky skill, economic football and
good organisation, with the Eaglets doing most of the running but
failing to get their passes right in the critical zone. They were
also guilty of wayward shooting.

After Olusegun cancelled Hansen’s first goal, the Nigerian
youngsters had themselves to blame for Hansen’s second, which
arrived no thanks to sloppy defending of a free kick in the 15th
minute. A poorly cleared ball fell at the feet of the gifted Hansen
at the edge of the box, and he let fly a rasping drive that
goalkeeper Daniel Jinadu had no answer to.

Oluwatimilehin Adeniyi got a poor touch on the ball from Ibrahim
Sa’id’s cross in the 22nd minute and a stinging Sa’id shot was
parried by the Dutch goalie 11 minutes later.

In the second half, Charles Etim’s good shot in the 54th minute
only rattled the Dutch goalkeeper, and four minutes later,
Akinkunmi Amoo should have done better when he had only the
opposing goalkeeper to beat.

Coach Manu Garba introduced Divine Nwachukwu and Ibraheem Jabaar
while withdrawing Peter Olawale and Sa’id, but Nigeria could find
no way back into the game in the manner they did against Hungary
and Ecuador in their first two matches.

Rather, 11 minutes from time, the Video Assistant Referee
spotted a handball by Clement Ikenna as Nigeria defended another
Dutch onslaught, and Hansen swept the ball past Jinadu for
Netherlands’ third goal.

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