Football
Dami Ugbane, Special to ESPN 6y

Flying Eagles cruise past Mauritania, qualify for 2019 U-20 Nations Cup

Nigeria's male Under-20 team, the Flying Eagles, qualified for the 2019 Africa U-20 Nations Cup after beating Mauritania 5-0 on Saturday in Lagos.

The team defied the heavy Lagos downpour and waterlogged pitch to record their best result of the qualifiers in the third round fixture to ensure a 6-1 aggregate victory.

Wasiu Alalade opened the floodgate of goals in the 11th minute, unleashing a fierce strike past goalkeeper Fall Amadou.

Kano Pillars' exciting forward Nazifi Yahaya netted a brace -- in the 33rd minute and a header a minute after the restart -- to hand Nigeria a 3-0 lead at the Agege Stadium.

Amadou produced two big saves, notably denying Alalade his second of a one-sided game.

However, there was no stopping the dominant Flying Eagles as they increased their lead, Aniekeme Asuquo with the fourth goal, before Afeez Aremu completed the rout from the spot in the 87th minute after Ali Isah was fouled.

The win ensures the seven-time African champions led by coach Paul Aigbogun make a return to the biennial continental competition -- to be held in Niger Republic -- after disappointingly missing out on the last edition in Zambia.

^ Back to Top ^