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Switzerland win FIFA Under-17 World Cup

Debutants Switzerland were crowned Under-17 World Cup champions here on Sunday when they defeated hosts and defending champions Nigeria 1-0 inside a packed Abuja National Stadium.

Haris Seferovic gave Switzerland the title courtesy of a 63rd minute header.

The Swiss were impressive leading to this championship game, and did well to contain the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, before they dealt the killer blow through Seferovic to the disappointment of the 60,000-strong crowd.

Nigeria were overwhelming favourites to win their fourth Under-17 World Cup, particularly on the back of the full international team’s dramatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in South Africa 24 hours earlier.

Spain took third place when they defeated Colombia 1-0.

Isco scored the winner in the 75th minute after Spain struggled to translate their dominance into goals.

Nigerian striker Sani Emmanuel was picked as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He scored five goals, all as a substitute.

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: abuja national stadium, championship game, crowd, debutants, disappointment, dominance, eaglets, Emmanuel, favourites, hosts, killer blow, minute header, nigeria, sani, South Africa, swiss, world cup champions

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Nigeria, Switzerland to meet in Under-17 World Cup final

Hosts Nigeria will take on Switzerland in the Under-17 World Cup final on Sunday at the Abuja National Stadium after both teams won their respective semi-finals on Thursday.

Defending champions Nigeria defeated Spain 3-1 while Switzerland trounced Colombia 4-0.

Spain were seeking revenge against Nigeria, who stopped them on penalties in the final of the tournament two years ago in Seoul to win their third Under-17 world championship.

But Stanley Okoro put Nigeria in front after half an hour when he dashed behind the Spanish defence before stroking home from close range.

Striker Sani Emmanuel came off the bench to net a brace for Nigeria and bring his goals tally to five so far at this tournament. Spain pulled a consolation goal back through big striker Borja on 83 minutes.

Switzerland stopped 10-man Colombia with Nassem Ben Khalifa and Haris Seferovic on target in the first half before Bruno Martignoni and Ricardo Rodriguez also scored after the interval.

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: abuja national stadium, bench, borja, Bruno Martignoni, colombia, consolation, Emmanuel, interval, LAGOS, martignoni, nigeria, okoro, Ricardo Rodriguez, Sani Emmanuel, seoul, Spain, Stanley Okoro, tally, target, World Cup

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Time out for Nigerian league football

The Nigerian Premier League (NPL) has been put on hold after five weeks of action as a result of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which the country will host beginning Saturday.

The NPL’s head of competitions, Tunji Babalola, announced that the league will resume on November 18, three days after the final of the international tournament whichy opens with the host team taking on Germany at the Abuja National Stadium.

The other Group A match is between Argentina and Honduras.

Officials disclosed that world ruling body FIFA have taken over all the eight stadiums designated for the tournament, meaning that several league clubs can therefore not host their home games at suitable venues.

Kaduna clubs, Ranchers Bees and Kaduna United, have already had to play their home matches away from the northern Nigeria city after their usual home ground, the Ranch Bees Stadium, was picked as a training facility for the U-17 World Cup.

Kaduna United played their opening matches in Gusau, while newly-promoted Ranch Bees settled for the Sabon Gari Township Stadium in Kano.

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: abuja national stadium, Argentina, bees, Bees Stadium, competitions, fifa under 17, fifa under 17 world cup, Germany, home games, Honduras, host team, Kaduna, Kano, LAGOS, league clubs, league football, match, nigerian premier league, northern nigeria, npl, premier league, ranchers, sabon gari, stadiums, suitable venues, Township Stadium

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Last-minute Tunisia grab draw in Nigeria

Nigeria’s World Cup quest suffered a setback on Sunday when Tunisia grabbed a last-minute 2-2 draw at the Abuja National Stadium.

The Super Eagles were on course for a much-needed victory in the 80th minute when Esperance striker Michael Eneramo scored Nigeria’s second goal only for his Tunisian club mate, Oussama Darragi, to snatch a last-minute equaliser for the north Africans.

Tunisia remain top of Group Two with eight points from four matches, two points clear of second-placed Nigeria with two rounds of matches to be played. Mozambique climbed to third place after they pipped Kenya 1-0 in Maputo.

Only the group winners will qualify for the World Cup finals.

Russia-based Osaze Odemwingie opened the scoring after 23 minutes when he collected a pass from the lively Ikechukwu Uche before darting past two Tunisian defenders and thundering home from inside the box into the roof of the net.

Tunisia drew level two minutes later when Sliti Nabil also produced a rocket of a shot from outside the box to beat diving goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

From the kick-off, the home team took the attacking initiative with Uche and Odemwingie threatening the Tunisian goal.

A combination between both strikers allowed Odemwingie to take a crack at goal, which missed the target.

Tunisia were closest to going ahead in the 20th minute when Lens striker Issam Jemaa rounded Enyeama, but his final effort hit the side netting, much to the relief of the 60,000 fans.

The Carthage Eagles created several more chances.

Enyeama saved from Ben Saada after 36 minutes and Saada again came close to getting his name on the scoresheet when his free-kick from the edge of the box a minute later was off target.

Nigeria continued to attack on the resumption of the second half, but looked increasingly suspect when the Tunisians attacked in numbers.

Esperance striker Eneramo replaced Seyi Olofinjana in the Super Eagles and within a minute of his entrance saw his header miss the target by inches.

At the other end, Enyeama saved from the ever-dangerous Jemaa, while a minute later, Nigeria had to thank the woodwork to save them from a misdirected header by Adeleye.

Nigeria fought back and regained the lead in the 80th minute when Eneramo stabbed home after great attacking play that involved John Mikel Obi and Obinna Nsofor.

However, another Esperance striker Darragi ensured there will be no victory party in Abuja with a last-ditch equaliser.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP)

Tags: abuja, abuja national stadium, Ben Saada, Carthage, club mate, equaliser, final effort, free kick, group winners, ikechukwu uche, issam, john mikel obi, kenya, Maputo, Michael Eneramo, Mozambique, Nabil, nigeria, north africans, olofinjana, osaze odemwingie, resumption, russia, saada, scoresheet, strikers, target, Tunisia, tunisian club, Vincent, vincent enyeama, world cup finals

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Hosts Nigeria handed tough FIFA Under-17 World Cup draw

Hosts Nigeria will have a tough task defending their FIFA Under-17 World Cup crown after being drawn in a tough first round group that includes Germany, Argentina and Honduras.

The three-time world champions will open the tournament on October 24 against Germany at the Abuja National Stadium.

Twenty four years ago, Nigeria defeated Germany 2-0 to win the inaugural event in China.

The other 20 teams in the tournament are drawn into five groups of four teams each.

Three-time champions Brazil head Group B based in Lagos along with Japan, Mexico and Switzerland.

African champions Gambia are in Group C in Calabar along with Iran, Colombia and the Netherlands.

Burkina Faso will be based in Group D in Nugu with Turkey, Costa Rica and New Zealand.

Group E will be in the northern city of Kano where United Arab Emirates, Malawi, Spain and the USA will play.

Group F, in Kaduna, features Uruguay, Korea, Algeria and Italy.

The competition will end on November 15.

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: abuja national stadium, african champions, algeria, Argentina, brazil, burkina faso, calabar, China, colombia, Costa Rica, fifa under 17, fifa under 17 world cup, Gambia, Germany, head group, Honduras, inaugural event, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kano, Korea, LAGOS, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, nigeria, november 15, october 24, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, time champions, time world champions, Turkey, twenty four years, united arab emirates, uruguay, world cup crown, zealand group

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Nigeria defeat Kenya to revive World Cup hopes

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria defeated Kenya 3-0 at the Abuja National Stadium Sunday to get their World Cup qualification campaign back on track.

Getafe forward Ikechukwu Uche opened the scoring after just two minutes before Obinna Nsofor from Inter Milan grabbed a brace in the second half.

Tunisia stay top of Group B with six points from two matches after they defeated Mozambique 2-0 at home Saturday, with Nigeria two points behind in second place.

Mozambique are on one point while Kenya remain pointless.

Both Tunisia and Nigeria clash in Tunis in two weeks time at the Rades Stadium in a match that could well provide an indication of the overall leadership of this group.

Inside a packed 60,000-capacity Abuja National Stadium, Nigeria started a youthful team without established internationals like Joseph Yobo, Mikel John Obi and Taye Taiwo, who stayed away from the team’s recent friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and France.

It took the Super Eagles only 180 seconds to go in front when Ikechukwu Uche combined with his older brother, Kalu Uche, before a poor clearance by Kenyan defender George Owino let in Ikechukwu Uche to drive the ball past goalkeeper Arnold Origi.

Kenya’s first attempt at goal came after quarter of an hour when Dennis Oliech let fly from distance but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saved easily.

Italy-based MacDonald Mariga tested Enyeama with a cleanly struck shot on 26 minutes, and a minute later, Oliech came even closer but his shot from the edge of 18-yard box brushed the crossbar.

Odemwingie would have doubled Nigeria’s lead when he was set up by Ikechukwu Uche, but Origi blocked his powerful shot.

The Russia-based striker wasted an even better chance three minutes later when his effort from top of the box missed target by inches.

Just before the interval, Kenya’s Origi spilled an Ikechukwu cross from the right but Esperance of Tunisia striker Eneramo could not take advantage of this clanger with the ball metres from the goal line.

In the 62nd minute, Kenya got their best chances of the match in quick succession with Oliech involved on both occasions.

First, he chose to square the ball to a teammate with the Nigerian defence on the back foot and seconds later, he again decided to pass the ball inside the box after he had rounded up goalkeeper Enyeama.

That was the wake-up call Nigeria needed to increase their lead 10 minutes later. Substitute Obinna Nsofor put away a penalty after goal-bound Odemwingie was brought down inside the box and Moroccan referee El Achiri Abdellah pointed to the penalty spot.

Four minutes later Nsofor thundered home from inside the box for Nigeria’s third goal. A superb move started by Kanu saw Echejile deliver a cross from the left, Ikechukwu miskicked to allow Nsofor control the ball before firing home.

Kenya lost by the same score line in their last two visits to Nigeria, in 1997 and 2003.

Tags: abuja national stadium, Arnold Origi, better chance, clanger, Dennis Oliech, France, George Owino, goal line, Goalkeeper, inter milan, internationals, Italy, joseph yobo, kenya, LAGOS, mikel john obi, Milan, Mozambique, nigeria, odemwingie, origi, republic of ireland, six points, striker, Taiwo, target, taye taiwo, three minutes, tunis, Tunisia, Vincent, World Cup, world cup qualification

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