Nwafor, Danjuma are heroesTWO goals from Uche Nwafor and great saves by goalkeeper Paul Danjuma inspired the Flying Eagles of Nigeria to a 2-1 victory over defending champions, the Starlets of Ghana in the opening Group B game played yesterday at the Maroko Swallows Stadium in Dobsonville, Soweto.The Nigerians made their chances count while the Ghanaians undoing was their inability to convert the goal scoring chances that came their way. Danjuma was in splendid form and kept Nigeria in the game with his close range saves and his team-mates would be grateful that their goalkeeper rose up to the occasion in this crunch encounter. The pitch was also a major concern as both sides resorted to up balls as against the tip tap soccer they were known for.Despite this big setback, it was the Flying Eagles that got off the mark earlier, making incursion into the Ghana box, but were thwarted by the defending champions. After the earlier pressure, the Ghanaians got going in the game but the sound coming from the Nigeria Supporters Club, who arrived shortly before kick-off, brought the Flying Eagles back to life as they pushed for the first goal.However, both sides pressed for the opening goal but the Flying Eagles got the first through Nwafor, who got to the end of a pass from Ajagun Jeleel to score in the 20th minute. After the goal, the Ghanaians had the chance to equalise but poor marksmanship was their bane. The fans did not have to wait for long, though, for the leveler as Ghanas No.9, Nsor Kwame, headed in the equaliser from a corner kick, which the Flying Eagles struggled to deal with throughout the game.For some good fortune, Nigeria should have fallen behind from set pieces as Ghana won much of the aerial battle in the Nigerian box. Ghana should have gone into the break leading but Danjuma thwarted another Starlets striker. On resumption of the second half, the Nigerians became more purposeful and the introduction of Stanley Okoro for captain Terry Envoh early in the half boosted Nigerias attack, which was now at its best.VV Venlos attacker, who arrived a night before the game, had the chance to put Nigeria in the lead but his final balls were disappointing while his attempt to take on the Ghana defence did not work most times. However, the few times he got through the Ghanaian defence, he was a handful.As the game wore on, the Nigerian boys became more exertive and got their second goal in the closing stages of the game through Nwafor, who scored with an audacious chip. The Ghanaians tried very much to equalise but were very vulnerable on the counter-attack, though Nigeria failed to increase tally.Ghana also had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Diatta Badara of Senegal. After the game, the Nigerian team took a victory lap to the admiration of the fans. The Flying Eagles will meet Cameroun on Thursday.
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