Nigeria became the first team to qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand after beating Congo 4-1 in their Group A day two match on Wednesday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.
Captain Musa Muhamed scored a brace whilst Ifeanyi Matthew and man-of-the-match Taiwo Awoniyi were also on target for Nigeria, who have confirmed their place at the last four and the global championship.
With six points, the Flying Eagles will certainly finish amongst the top two teams in Group A leaving the other spot at the mercy of hosts Senegal, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria settled quickly and by the quarter-hour mark, had created three clear chances at goal, one of which Matthew scored the opener on four minutes. Taiwo Awoniyi laid to Matthew, who dummied his marker before shooting past Congo goalie Pavelh Ndzila from close range for the first goal.
Two minutes later, the second major chance fell to Muhammed during one of his usual overlapping runs. Awoniyi after profiting from a through pass from the middle eased past Karl Ekaya and squared to his captain, who struck a grounder that forced Ndzila to make unarguably the best save of the first half.
The combination of Awoniyi and Matthew will return to haunt the Junior Red Devils on 14 minutes but this time the final effort from Matthew went wide to the relief of the Congolese.
Tragedy will struck the Flying Eagles on 26 minutes when goalkeeper Enaholo Joshua was sent off for fouling Fred Ngoma at the edge of the penalty area. Following the red card, Nigeria coach Manu Garba was forced to vary his tactics and he pulled out Chidera Ezeh for second-choice goalie Olorunkele Oluwasegun. The resultant free-kick by the Congolese went wayward.
At the otherhand, Awoniyi who was a constant threat for the Congolese rear was felled by Cosme Atoni Mavougou in the vital area for a penalty, which was nicely slotted home by Mohamed for the second goal on 35 minutes.
The Junior Red Devils made their numerical advantage count early in the second half launching onslaughts into the Nigerian halve. However, it was Nigerians who managed to increase the tally on 54 minutes after Awoniyi weaved his way through the Congolese backline only to be fouled by Mavougou again for a penalty. Muhammed again sent Ndzila the opposite direction for the third goal.
On 62 minutes, Morocco-based forward Silvere Ganvoula Mboussy pulled one back for the Congolese capitalizing on a loss of concentration by the Nigerian defence.
The Congolese pinned down the Nigerians but failed to make the chances count into goals with Moise Mkoukou, Bevic Moussito Oko and Mboussy coming close a couple of times.
Three minutes from time, Awoniyi sealed victory with the fourth goal with a superb strike. After dispossessing the Congolese off a counter, Matthew fetched Awoniyi, who blasted a superb shot past Ndzila to sign off victory in grand style.
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