Flying Eagles of Nigeria commenced their 2019 CAF Under 20 championship first group game on a winning note with a 2-0 victory over Burundi on Saturday February 2, 2019.
The first half saw both teams measuring each other’s abilities but flying Eagles having a large chunk of possession (66-34%) and more attacking incursions. Nigeria’s attacking incursions earned the Burundi players 2 first half yellow cards awarded to Ramadhan Bigirimana and Thrence Rukundo.
At half time both sides couldn’t secure a goal scoring breakthrough.
The second half of the encounter followed similar pattern like that of the first half with Nigeria continuing their possessive dominance over Burundi. As goals became a scarce commodity, Nigerian gaffer and ex Enyimba coach Paul Aigbogun brought on Maxwell Effiom for Ibrahim Aliyu. Soon after in the 55th minute flying Eagles got their deserving goal courtesy Yahaya Nazifi.
The Nigerian side were not satisfied as they wanted to take full advantage of the group given the fact that the first game of the group ended 1-1 between South Africa and Niger Republic. In the 71st minute, substitute Maxwell Effiom sealed victory for Nigeria to put the game beyong Burkina Faso.
The game ended in a 2-0 triumph for flying Eagles of Nigeria who will next face Niger Republic and South Africa in a quest to get a World Cup ticket for the year’s FIFA Under 20 World Cup.
Full Time
Nigeria 2-0 Burundi
Yahaya Nazifi 55′
Maxwell Effiom 71′
Full Time Statistics
Nigeria Vs Burundi
Possession % 64-36
Shots (on goal) 19-5 (9-1)
Fouls 14-9
Assists 2-0
Corners 7-2
Yellow cards 1-3
Red cards 0-0
Offsides 4-2
Substitutes 3-3
