AFCON 2015 FT: Egypt 2 – 2 Nigeria

[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”ZDa5popTcFG3bmH3q85yRbca6ow3aL1c”]FT: Egypt 2 – 2…Etebo’s double penalties in the first half are cancelled out by two quick fire second half goals.

Read the full match LIVE update report below.

Nigeria U-23 Dream Team VI will be hoping to secure a semi-final berth when they step out at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’bour, Senegal.

Having picked up maximum points in a nervy 3-2 win over Mali in their first group game, another three points against the Young Pharaohs of Egypt will see the Dream Team VI march into the semi-final.

Coincidentally, football lovers will get to witness a repeat of the clash as this game sets the tone for a 2017 AFCON double-header between the two countries in March.

Nigeria Dream Team VI

Aware of his team’s chances of qualifying to the next round, Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said in a pre-match conference: “Wins in our first two matches will qualify us for the semi-finals and that is what we are targeting.”

Siasia however admitted his team were only lucky to win their first game.

He said: “We almost got ‘killed’ in our first game against Mali, and we have to do more against Egypt. It will be a difficult game. Our strength is scoring but defensively we are shaky. We cannot repeat the same mistakes against Egypt.”

Egypt, will miss key players including Al Ahly midfielder Saleh Gomaa through injury, but coach Hossam Al Badri has said his team is committed to achieving their goal of qualifying for the Olympics.

Al Badri said: “We expect a tough match since Nigeria will be hoping to win to avoid calculations as far as a place at the semi-final is concerned. Our goal is also to secure the three points to smoothen our road to the semis. Normally, Nigeria would attack, and if they do, we will exploit the spaces they would leave behind.”

Kick-off time for this encounter is 7pm today, December 2, at the Caroline Faye Stadium in Mbour. Naij.com will bring you live coverage of the game.

Nigeria XI: Daniel Emmanuel, Effiong Ndifreke, Seth Sincere, Amaefule Chizoba, Oduduwa Segun, Muhammed Usman, Okechukwu Azubuike (C), Dimgba Stanley, Etebo Oghenekaro, Junior Ajayi, Awoniyi Taiwo.

FT: Egypt 2 – 2…Etebo’s double penalties in the first half are cancelled out by two quick fire second half goals

90′ MISS!!! Bature misses the chance to make himself a hero as his volley from a ball not well cleared is well over

89′ SUB: Kawu Bature in, Junior Ajayi out

88′ Still no clear chances but the opponents are now aggressive

84′ MISS!!! Etebo does well on the left but his cross is missed by everyone and cleared for a corner

81′ Godspower in, Dimgba Stanley in

79′ USMAN DOWN!!!! Usman Mohammed is down after he is on the end of a crunching. The opposition have has the better chances and clearer opportunities

74′ DOUBLE MISS!!! The Egyptians play a corner which bounces around and is eventually cleared. The ball is played back and an attacker is set free and he is flagged offside

71′ MISS!!! Karm is found free on the left and tries to work a tight angle, Flying Eagles survive another scare

69′ Junior Ajayi tries to stretch to meet a ball but the opposition goalie does well to gather

68′ The opponents on the ascent now with the defence looking disoriented. Oduduwa does well to clear a danger but is injured in the process

62′ SHOT!!! A volley from some 25 yards out is easy for Daniel to gather

60′ YELLOW CARD!!! Amafule is shown a card for taking out Karim on the right…freekick from the foul is cleared

58′ SHOT!!! Karim’s shot from the right hits the side netting

55′ WHAT A MISS!!! Odusuwa misses a simple opportunity to head in a ball from a corner…

54′ Nigeria throwing all players in the hopes of a goal but the opposition defense does well

51′ GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!! Egypt equalize through an own goal. Karim’s cross from the left is turned into the net by Chizoba

50′ IS THAT A PENALTY??? Etebo falls under pressure but ref says play on…good call

47′ GOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!! Egypt score via a header, a quick attacking move sees a cross from the left which is duly converted with a towering header

46′ Second half kicks off

HT: Egypt 0 – 2 Nigeria..Etebo’s double penalties the difference

45+ Daniel is aware to come out of his goal to clear a danger

45+ Two minutes of added time given

43′ WHAT A MISS!!! A Junior Pharoah has the chance to score after a cross from the right meets hi at the far post with the goal at his mercy, he somehow manages to head the ball like its a clearance. Offside anyway

40′ Egypt having more of the ball but no clear chances. A defender does well to block Ajayi’s cross from the left which was sure to meet Awoniyi on the far post

38′ The opponents try an attacking move by passing the ball around, the Eagles defense is in 6 and 7’s but a final misplaced pass allows goalie Daniel Emmanuel to gather

35′ AWONIYI DOWN!!!! Taiwo Awoniyi receives a bloww to the head, the referee calls on the medic who quickly treat the attacker. He returns to the pitch

33′ Digma Stanley receives treatment

32′ OFFSIDE!!! Assistant referee says Ajayi is off, Awoniyi was the intended target from Mohammed’s through ball but slipped and Ajayi took over from an offside position

30′ GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!! Etebo sends the goalie the other way to make it 2 – 0 in favour of the Flying Eagles

29′ PENALTY AGAIN!!!! Nigeria earn another penalty after Etebo’s cross is deflected onto a defender’s hand

27′ IS THAT A PENALTY??? The opponents feel they should be awarded a penalty after an attacker is felled when dribbbling a third player in the box, ref says play on

26′ Nothing of note since the goal as both teams defences have cancelled out attacks thrown at them

23′ The opponents are now attacking the Dream Team’s goal with regularity now but the defenders have been spot on in their duties

20′ GOOOOOAAALLLLLLL!!!! Etebo scores from the spot

19′ PENALTY!!! Nigeria counter after Egypt’s attack and a ball from the left hits a defender. Replays show it hit his knee not his hand, UNLUCKY!!!

18′ SAVE!!! The Flying Eagles are lucky not to be one goal down as an attack on the left sees an attacker free bt his shot is weak

17′ Despite the early dominance of Nigeria, there were no clear cut chances or shots on target, the Junior Pharoahs now on the ascent

16′ Seth Sincere is beaten for pace at the right but Ndifere does well to recover for him

14′ DOUBLE SHOT!!! The opponents defense mount a wall that blocks shots from Junior Ajayi and Etebo

13′ Egypt have grown into the match now

11′ Amaefule Chizoba does well to deny the Egyptians a scoring chance….they earn a corner but it is well dealth with by the defense

8′ No clear chances of yet but Nigeria orcing the opponents into their own half

6′ Etebo and Usman Mohammed showing enough to suggest they could be crucial in this game with some neat touches

3′ Nigeria bssing possession in this early stages, Seth Sincere is alert to clear a dangerous counter attack from the opponents

2′ MISSED CHANCE!!! Awoniyi does not jump well eenouh to connect to Etebo’s lofted pass

1′ Nigeria keeping possession of the ball in the early stages

1′ kick off…Nigeria gets us started