27-Sep-2001
Nigeria advance to final with tough 1-0 victory

Nigeria clinched a spot in the final match with a 1-0 victory over Burkina
Faso at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar in the semi-final of the FIFA
U-17 World Championship Trinidad & Tobago 2001 presented by JVC.
A fourth minute penalty from Femi Opabunmi was the only goal of the game
marked by a superb effort from Burkina Faso goalkeeper Abdoul Kadre
Kontougomde who was named JVC Player of the Match as selected by FIFA.

Nigeria earns a re-match with France, whom the Golden Eaglets beat 2-1 on 16
September in Group B play, on 30 September in the title game in Port of
Spain. France defeated Argentina 2-1 earlier on Thursday. It will be the
fourth appearance in the final for Nigeria who were crowned champions in
1985 and 1993.

Burkina Faso will also get a re-match with Argentina, with whom they drew
2-2 in the first round of the tournament, in the third place match on
Sunday. Even though the Burkinabes will try for their highest finish ever in
this tournament on Sunday, Burkina Faso head coach Jacques Michel Yameogo
lamented the opportunity not to play in the final.

"I have mixed feelings because I saw some players play very well, but also
some sadness since we will not get to play in the final," said Yameogo.

Nigeria opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the match when Omonigho
Temile's cross was knocked down in the penalty area by the arm of Burkina
Faso defender Amadou Coulibaly. Referee Samuel Richard Contreras immediately
pointed to the penalty spot. Femi Opabunmi stroked the ball into the top
left-hand corner of the net for his team-leading fifth goal of the
tournament.

Nigeria coach Musa Abdullahi was content that his team took advantage of the
opportunity so early in the match.

"We were lucky to get the early goal, but that is what the game is all
about. You get an opportunity, you utilize it, and that is it," said
Abdullahi.

On nine minutes, it was the same two for Nigeria when Temile crossed the
ball again from the right side, but Opabunmi shot over the net from eight
metres out.

Burkina Faso had their best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute when
Boureima Ouattara chipped the ball into the box. Madi Panandetiguiri
first-timed the ball to the near post forcing a quick reflex save from
Nigerian goalkeeper Akpan Bassey.

Just after the half-hour mark, Nigerian defender Kennedy Chinwo sent a free
kick from the side of the penalty area, but Soga Sambo headed the ball wide
of the post.

Late in the first half, Kontougomde made two wonderful saves to keep the
score-line at 1-0. In the 43rd minute, Sambo shot from the top of the
penalty box, and Kontougomde punched it away. Nigeria's Joseph Eyimofe put
the rebound into the side netting.

One minute later, Nigeria's Victor Brown made a run down the left side of
the field. He beat his defender at the touchline and crossed it into the
middle. Burkina Faso failed to clear the ball away, and Temile lashed a shot
on goal that forced Kontougomde to dive and knock the ball away.

Eight minutes after the interval, Burkina Faso's leading scorer Wilfried
Sanou broke in on goal, but Bassey did well to smother the ball on the shot.

In the 63rd minute, it was Kontougomde with another spectacular save. Temile
crossed the ball from the wing, and Sambo first-timed a shot that was
thwarted by a two hand diving save from Kontougomde.

Four minutes later, Nigerian defender Richard Eromoigbe threw the ball in 30
metres from goal into the penalty area. Brown flicked it on with the back of
his head, but Temile hit the shot over the net from six metres out.

With 17 minutes left to go, Burkina Faso had a free kick 25 metres from goal
on the left side of the pitch. Oumarou Ouedraogo touched the ball forward,
and Karim Bamba lashed a shot on goal that Bassey swallowed up at the near
post.

Nigeria had a chance to double their lead when second-half substitute Karimu
Shaibu sprinted in on goal, but once again Kontougomde was there to deny
him.

Yameogo was quick to praise his young goalkeeper for keeping his team in the
match.

"He saved a lot of Nigerian chances and we are very happy he was named JVC
Player of the Match," said Yameogo

In the 91st minute, Burkina Faso's Lassana Kanoute was sent off for his
second bookable offence and will miss Sunday's match with Argentina.

Nigeria will face France in the FIFA U-17 World Championship Trinidad &
Tobago 2001 final on Sunday at 18:00 local time at the Hasely Crawford
Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad while Burkina Faso will play Argentina
for third place at 15:00.

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