Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team on Saturday qualified for the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger Republic after mauling Mauritania 5-0 at the Agege Stadium.
They qualified for the competition 6-1 on aggregate following a 1-1 draw in Nouakchott last week.
A brace from Nazifi Yahaya and a goal each from Wasiu Alalade, Aniekeme Asuquo and Afeez Aremu gave the Flying Eagles the victory on a waterlogged Agege Stadium pitch – following the heavy rains which fell hours before the match.
Paul Aigbogun started Diran Ogundare in goal with Ikouwem Udoh, Rabiu Mohammed, Olisema Ekene and Valentine Ozornwafor in defence while Aremu, Adamu Alhassan, Abubakar Ibrahim and Asuquo were in the midfield and Yahaya and Alalade led the attack.
The Flying Eagles dominated play in the one-sided contest as they showed their intent from the first minute.
Enyimba winger Alalade opened scoring after 11 minutes before Yahaya doubled the advantage in the 33rd minute. The Kano Pillars striker added his second in the 46th minute to make the scores 3-0.
The Mauritanians fought a little back but were pegged back by the dominant Flying Eagles midfielders. Asuquo scored Nigeria’s fourth goal 63rd minute before Aremu scored the last goal in the 87th minute from the penalty spot after Alalade was brought down in the penalty area.
