Nigeria disappoints, Cameroon rides on luck

When they are odds-on to deliver they don’t and when they’re down, its’ often difficult for them to get up much to the frustration of their fans, this is the poignant story of Nigeria’s national football teams. Outside of their shores, Nigeria is probably every ones’ second best team among the top African teams with millions of fans across the continent, but on countless occasions they’ve let their fans terribly down. Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to the hands of archrivals Cameroon in the semifinal of the 16th African Youth Championship is the latest among a series of Nigeria’s disappointing moments when millions of their fans expect them to deliver. It was evident right from the onset who the majority of those that braved the afternoon damp weather were supporting, and you could sense of big disillusionment at the referee’s final whistle. On estimation, over fifteen thousand (15000) spectators turned up to watch the two semifinal matches of the continental youth championship and they couldn’t have begged for more entertainment as all four sides involved gave full accounts of why they’ll be Africa’s flag bearers at the next World Youth Championship due for September in Egypt. For the obvious reasons, the local (Rwandan) fans were strongly behind South Africa in the first semifinal tie against Ghana but they was nothing they could do as the Black Satellites ran out 4-3 winner in a pulsating match that recorded the highest number of goals for a single game at this tournament. Ghana and host nation Rwanda were in the same group and the former won the context between the two sides 2-0. Rwanda finished third, behind Cameroon but above Mali. And the story was similar in the second semifinal between Nigeria and Cameroon, a game in which almost three-quarters of the crowd inside Amahoro stadium was for the Flying Eagles yet again the final score of 2-0 in favor of the Young Cubs couldn’t be any worse but more disappointing for the local fans. Credit to the Cameroonians, who were rank outsiders to win this tournament and their slow start didn’t improve their odds either but here they’re in the final where they meet another old time rival. Against Nigeria, Cameroon were full value for their half time lead, though they were extremely lucky not to be 2-0 down when they scored on the half hour mark. If it’s your day, then it’s your day, so they say and it was a day for the Young Cubs indeed, who on a day everything seemed to go their way. First, Nigeria’s number nine Chrisantus Macauley missed a seater with the head then captain Haruna Lukman hit the inside of the post twice, first with a fierce free kick and again from the penalty spot. Cameroon’s second goal which also seemed to kill off the contest was the softest of the entire tournament thus far, first it came against the run of play and then the defenders conspire with the keeper to let it cross the line! Chasing an unprecedented sixth title, Nigeria came to this year’s tournament as hot favourites but with teams like South Africa and Cameroon proving too good for them in the group stage and the semifinal respectively, it means Ghana have the chance to win their third title and or Cameroon taking home a second African youth title. Ends

Lifestyle

Nigeria disappoints, Cameroon rides on luck