Nigeria U17 6-1 Ghana U17: Isaac Success scores four in rout of Black Starlets

The Golden Eaglets their quest for a third Caf U17 Championship trophy on a flying note as they went goal crazy against the Black Starlets

By Shina Oludare

Cafonline.com

Nigeria began their quest for a third Caf U17 Championship trophy with an emphatic 6-1 defeat of Ghana at the Stade de Marakech in Morocco on Sunday evening.
Four goals from Isaac Success and one each from Kelechi Iheanacho and Bernard Bulbwa were all the Garba Manu boys needed to brush aside Pa Kwesi Fabian’s team on an evening of exciting youth football.

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The much talked about derby between the two West African sides kicked off on a bright note as both teams who were still fresh from their impressive pre-tournament outings contested for every ball to gain possession.
However, it was the Nigerians that got the curtain raiser when danger man Success coolly slotted in a well tailored pass from Musa Yahaya which left the Ghanaian goalie helpless. The Black Satellites attempted a comeback by Paul Asare’s attempt was blocked by the wood work.
In the 14th minute, Emmanuel Boateng’s attempt was parried by Adeyinka Adewale in goal for Nigeria as the Ghanaians searched for an equaliser.
Bulbwa doubled the lead in the 30th minute in similar fashion the first goal was gotten when he slotted in the ball past Ati Lawrence after receiving a sublime pass from Awoniyi.
Awoniyi turned provider again in the 40th minute when he displaced the Ghanaian midfield marshalled by Yakubu Mohammed, Opoku Nicholas and Twan Isaac before laying a pass to Success who had no choice but to bury the ball into the net.
On resumption of the second half, Nigeria totally subdued the Ghanaians as Success got his third from the penalty spot after Bulbwa was forcefully brought down by goalkeeper Lawrence who was immediately given the marching order.
The Ghanaians then got their solitary strike in the 66th minute courtesy of a powerful volley off the left foot of Yeboah outside the Nigerian goal area that beat Adewale.
Three minutes later, man of the match Success got his fourth when he unleashed a missile past the substitute Ghanaian goalie after an amazing run down the right flank after profiting from a good midfield combo with Idowu Akinjide and Ifeanyi Mathew.
Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho put the icing on the cake on the fourth minute of extra time to leave the Ghanaians demystified.
The Nigerian lads, who have now extended their unbeaten run to 28 matches and 127 goals in the process, will now face Cote d’Ivoire who played 1-1 against Congo in the earlier game next Wednesday. Ghan will next face Congo. ----------------- goal.com