Nigeria's home based Eagles came from behind to secure a dramatic 4-3
victory over Morocco after extra time to
qualify for the semifinal of the African Nations Championship(CHAN)It was a game of two halves as both Nigeria and Morocco put up a great spectacle in an entertaining quarter-finals match.
The Eagles looked a shadow of the team that defeated South Africa as they were completely dominated by the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the first half.
Stephen Keshi’s team tuned off and paid for their laxity, conceding three goals in a space of seven minutes, going into the break with a three-goal deficit.
Chigozie Agbim would have been scratching his head over his performances as he watched the goals go past him.
Morocco got the first goal after they were gifted possession in the midfield and quickly countered to net the opener.
A pass was laid for Mohsine Moutaouali who lobbed Chigozie Agbim to score the first goal, and the other two goals followed in quick succession.
In between the goals scored by Morocco, Nigeria's best chance fell to Gbolahan Salami whose effort went inches wide from finding the net.
Mouhssine Iajour found a way past Nigeria's wall in a free-kick to net the second goal, beating Agbim at the near post.
Morocco now in the ascendancy further punished Nigeria, with Moutaouali grabbing his second of the game catching Agbim wrong-footed to score from the edge of the box.
However Nigeria regrouped and started the second half the hungrier of both sides, with Stephen Keshi rejigging his side with some tactical changes, bringing out Salami for Barnabas Imenger.
Ugonna Uzochukwu started the comeback for Nigeria, bringing down the ball with his chest and shooting from the edge of the box to pull one back.
Rabiu Ali scored another goal to ignite hope, shooting an unstoppable shot inside the box after Imenger knocked down the pass to him to make the scores 2-3 .
The Eagles had chances to score but were made to be patient for the goal, trying hard to carve openings for a goal.
And when it was almost the 90th minute Ejike Uzoeynyi stepped up with the miracle, dribbling a player to belt an unstoppable shot that drew Nigeria level at 3-3 forcing extra time.
With the momentum now with Nigeria, the Eagles marauded the Moroccans probing for the fourth goal.
And it duly came in the second half of extra time when Uzoenyi made an in-swinging cross into the box, but the Moroccan keeper spilled the ball and Abubakar Ibrahim capitalized to slot the ball into the net.
Nigeria saw out the game and have now qualified for the semifinals,where they will meet the winner of the game between Ghana and DR Congo.
It was a performance that has seen Nigeria so far emerge as the highest goal scorers in this competition, accounting for 12 goals.
Culled from: nigerianbulletin.com
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