Nigeria 3-1 Cote d’Ivoire: Magnificent Michael powers Golden Eaglets past Baby Elephants

The Simoiben academy product was the difference-maker because the Nigerians dumped out the defending champions

Full-back Emmanuel Michael shot a pair of wonderful free-kicks to encourage Golden
Eaglets to a 3-1 win over Ivory Coast and assist Nigeria e book a spot within the closing of the WAFU B Championship on Tuesday.

After ending as Group A leaders, the Nigerian lads had been the favourites in opposition to an Ivorian aspect that solely certified as runners-up from Group B, having misplaced two of three video games.

However the defending champions had no intention of rolling over for the Golden Eaglets to steamroll over them, drawing first blood from the penalty spot early within the first half.

The Golden Eaglets, nevertheless, unleashed their secret weapon in Emmanuel Michael, and the teenager, from a seemingly unimaginable angle, curved in a free-kick to attract Nigeria stage halfway by means of the opening half.

Michael had received the man-of-the-match award in each of Nigeria’s first two video games in Ghana, and he once more confirmed his high quality shortly earlier than the interval.

After stepping over one other free-kick, the Simoiben Academy product bent the ball over a wall of Ivorian defenders and into the web to make it 2-1 for the Eaglets.

Abdullahi Idris acquired the third objective for Nigeria on the hour mark. Michael may have netted a hat trick, however his freekick missed the goal by whiskers within the 77th minute.

By the full-time whistle, the Nduka Ugbade-tutored boys nonetheless appeared the brisker and extra threatening of the 2 groups.

The Golden Eaglets, with the victory, have booked their place within the closing of the WAFU B Championship and can face the winner of the opposite semifinal conflict between high-flying Burkina Faso and hosts Ghana.

The five-time world champions have additionally booked a ticket to the CAF u-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria subsequent 12 months.