Ghana Is Africa’s Only Remaining Hope As Uruguay Eliminate Nigeria At U20 World Cup

Nicolas Lopez Uruguay inflicted its latest defeat on Africa when they were bundled Nigeria out of the Fifa Under-20 World Championship in Turkey with a 2-1 win over the Flying Eagles on Tuesday. The West Africans once again failed to end the South American hoodoo hovering over their heads in the Fifa Under-20 World Cup as Nicolas Lopez’s spot kick inside the last 10 minutes put them to the sword. The defeat will be painful for African as the South American side have once again succeeded in eliminating an African country from a football tournament after booting Ghana out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. There was not much to choose from both teams with an even play in the first half though Nigeria had the better scoring opportunities. Inside the opening 20 minutes, Aminu Umar’s cross provided Olarenwaju Kayode with the best chance of the half from just six yards out from Uruguay’s goal but he could not connect. Within a minute, Gino Acevedo ghosted past two of his Nigerian markers into the goal area but blazed the ball wide off target. Seven minutes before the break, Abdullahi Shehu’s long cross from the right channel was met by Umar’s half volley which Uruguay goalkeeper, Guillermo De Amores palmed away before Jim Varela cleared. And just four minutes to half time, Nigeria were reduced to 10 men when Shehu was shown a straight red card by Serbian referee, Milorad Mazic, for a two- footed tackle on Diego Laxalt. Shehu had just received a yellow card a minute earlier as the half petered away with little talking point. Five minutes into the restart, Kayode’s looping effort was deflected off target. Uruguay then went close to taking the lead when Laxalt’s volley could only be palmed away by Samuel Okani in Nigeria’s goal. The skilful Giorgian De Arrascaeta later stung Okani’s palms from range via a free kick. Nigeria defence was left in sixes and sevens including Okani as Lopez tapped home De Arrascaeta’s deflected dead-ball for the opening goal from close range into an empty goal in the 65th minute. Kayode then produced a solo finish four minutes later after running all alone before shooting from 25 yards past De Amores to put Nigeria level. The game sparked into life as Michael Olaitan almost made it 2-1 to Nigeria four minutes later after his effort missed target by inches. But Wilfred Ndidi fouled Diego Rolan, who dribbled past an onrushing Okani with seven minutes left and Lopez coolly scored to restore the South Americans’ lead again. In added time, Nigerian defenders, Ndidi and Kingsley Madu, came close to making score 2-2. Uruguay will now face Spain in the quarterfinals as the South American jinx continue to haunt the Nigerian under-20s.