Flying Eagles Lose To Burkina Faso, Settle For Silver Medal At Africa Games
Again, Flying Eagles of Nigeria failed to deliver when when it mattered most. Contrary to permutations and expectations young Stallions of Burkina Faso Friday shocked Nigeria’s U-20 male 2-0 to clinch Gold in the finals of the Africa Games football event in Morocco.
Nigeria’s young eagles settled for silver medal after they fell to the Burkina Faso side who they held to a 1-1 draw in the football event’s opening matches two weeks ago.
Flying Eagles who had dispatched Mali 5-4 on penalties to hit the final were tipped not necessarily to have a walk in the park against the Stallions in the final but to win the match even by a slight margin.
Coach of the side Paul Aigbogun had before the match challenged his boys not to give room for mistakes that could ruin the day.
But it appeared the boys were not attentive as they conceded twice in the first half of the encounter played at the Stade Moulay Hassan.
The result is thus an indication that all did not go according to plans or that they underrated their opponents who ran away with gold.
It was apparent that the junior Stallions were given two major instructions, go, get the goals and defend it to the finish!
Despite spirited efforts to find their way back into the game, the Flying Eagles were unable to breach the Burkina Faso defence in the second half.
Both teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the group stage, but Burkina Faso proved their superiority over the Flying Eagles this time around.
Nigeria last won an All Africa Gold medal in the 1973 edition.