The Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire emerged top of the pile at the African U-17 Championship by easing past Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in a penalty shoot-out in Saturday’s final, having conceded a paltry three goals throughout the tournament.
FIFA rules for the youth level dictate that U-17s do not play extra time at the end of 90 minutes, so the ultimate game of the hotly contested tournament went straight to penalties, where Chiedbere Nwakali suffered anguish very familiar to England international players by missing what turned out to be the crucial kick.
Nigeria caught Cote d’Ivoire just settling into the game when Izu Omego put them ahead after just seven minutes. Ifeanyi Mathew met a Nwakali corner at the near post and headed goalwards across the ‘keeper. Somehow, Aboubakar Diabagate in the Cote d’Ivoire goal saved low and to his right but could only parry the ball into the path of the onrushing Omego, who reacted quicker than several defenders to hook the ball in.
This seemed to galvanise the Eaglets into action but a period of sustained Nigerian pressure culminated in an equalising goal for Cote d’Ivoire against the run of play on 26 minutes. Hesitancy in the Nigerian back line led to goalkeeper Adeyinka Adewale having to come off his line to meet a pass. His poor pass out led to a free kick being given away in a central position some 35 yards from goal. The kick was met by Chris Bile Bedia, who rose above two defenders to head the ball beyond the reach of Adewale in Nigeria’s goal.
The Ivorians arrived at the match with the confidence-boost of a win against a previously rampant Nigeria at the group stage; and it was clear the Nigerians had been stung by the criticism they received at home for that performance. Within the next six minutes, Ifeanyi Mathew and Chiedbere Nwakali came close to restoring Nigeria’s lead before the break.
Three minutes into the second half, Musa Yahaya was played into a scoring opportunity after superb offensive play but he could only hit the side-netting.
On 52 minutes, Bedia was in position to score a second goal for the Ivorians with a close range header but Adewale reacted well.
The tournament’s leading scorer, Isaac Success, repeatedly marauded inside the Ivory Coast’s penalty area but was misfiring on the day. Inside the last 20 minutes, Nigeria had a penalty shout waved away when Success claimed he was bundled down in the goal area by four Ivorian defenders.
With 16 minutes left, goalscorer Omego was sent off by Malian referee Mahamadou Keita for use of the elbow. Down to ten men, Nigeria, who had scored 18 goals so far compared to Cote d’Ivoire’s five, would nevertheless have hoped that their pressure would have led to a winning goal in normal time instead of being subjected to the lottery of penalties.
At the final whistle, it was clear some in the crowd were expecting the customary 15 minutes each way of extra time, but FIFA has wisely asserted that 120 minutes at this competitive level is too much of a physical challenge for adolescent bodies.
As both teams huddled on the pitch and then lined up in the centre circle as it slowly dawned that the championship of the entire African continent would come down to how many of them could successfully kick a ball from 12 yards into a 192 square foot goal.
With one notable exception, the youths showed the senior players how to take penalties during the shoot-out. Isaac Success, who hit seven goals in the tournament to emerge top scorer – three more than the entire Cote d’Ivoire squad up until the final – started proceedings by smashing the ball high into the roof of the net to give Nigeria the early advantage.
Frank Kessie responded for Cote d’Ivoire by slamming the ball into the corner of Adewale’s goal, way out of reach of any goalkeeper in the world.
Forward stepped Chiedbere Nwakali for Nigeria. He carefully placed the ball but instead of turning to walk back or taking a few paces backwards, he loitered over the ball for what seemed an inordinately long time. Before the crowd had time to wonder when the Nigerian number 14 was going to position himself for his run-up, he decided he didn’t need one. With his left foot planted beside the ball, he simply swing his right leg resulting in what can only be described as a pass to the Cote d’Ivoire ‘keeper. Aboubakar Diabagate in the Baby Elephants’ goal did not save as much as lie down and wait for the ball to reach him.
Nwakali’s aberration proved crucial, as the remaining penalties were despatched by both teams with aplomb. All the Baby Elephants’ kicks went to the ‘keeper’s right with Diallo Ismael’s left foot and strikes by Bekanty Angban and Aboubacar Keita maintaining their lead. Coolest of all was Dogbole Niangbo’s winning penalty, which he took as though it was a kickabout in the park, rather than the decisive kick in an international tournament.
Nwakali and his teammates were understandably inconsolable as the Cote d’Ivoire players rushed towards cameras – as seems to have become a trend – and each other. In the end, Cote d’Ivoire were unbeaten in the tournament, despite their paltry goal tally, and have to, by this measure, be crowned not just champions but deserving champions of Africa.
Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi has expressed his satisfaction at the nation’s U17 team’s t success.
“I am very happy for the Ivoirian people. Especially for these youngsters and coach Kamara Ibrahim who has done an excellent job. This is an example for all of us and for Ivoirian football,” said Lamouchi, who failed to guide the senior national team past the quarter finals of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations.
“There are prospects for these new champions in the near future in the senior national team. But one can’t leave out certain stages. What is sure is that the most difficult task today is quite simply to organise them, to lead them so that they make progress,” added Lamouchi.
Tunisia finished third in the tournament after beating the hosts Morocco 11-10 in a marathon penalty shoot-out. Their match had also finished 1-1.
All four teams – champions Ivory Coast, runners-up Nigeria, Tunisia and Morocco have now qualified for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 8.
