Golden Eaglets beat promising Ace FC 1-0

Nigeria's Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets, on Saturday wrought another
win courtesy of a first half goal by winger Promise Orji against a
promising Kaduna-based Ace Football Club at the Abraham Ordia Stadium
inside the University of Calabar.
"Maybe we would have even played better than we did against the Golden
Eaglets today,"volunteered Ace FC's Coach Al-Amin Ibn-Musa."We didn't
arrive Calabar until the early hours of the day but that should not
take anything away from the victory of the Golden Eaglets because they
played a good match against us."
Both team used the early part of the match to size up each other but
it was Ace FC that nearly went in front in the 10th minute after Uzama
Douglas conceded a free kick in front of the Golden Eaglets' goal
area; but goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokeocha making just his second starting
line up held firmly to Shefiu Dauda's resultant free kick.
 Then in the 39th minute, Eaglets' midfielder, Jack Ipalibo finally
came out of his shell by snaking his way through the left flank before
slicing a cross on the path of Orji; who cleverly evaded on rushing
Ace's defender, Christopher Nwaeze, before hitting the ball behind
goalkeeper Nurudeen Mudashir.
Thereafter, there were few chances in between but it was Nwokeocha's
agility that robbed the Kaduna lads the opportunity of getting the
needed equalizer time and again. In the 79th, Nwokoecha deflected a
goal-bound shot from Nwaze and equally did a Yeoman's job in the 85th
minute when he punched away a blind header by Peter Obochi.
Yet unimpressed with the team's overall performance, Coach Emmanuel
Amuneke gave his wards 'hairdryer' asking them to gird their loins in
the days ahead:"We don't need to remind you every time that this is a
national team and there is a certain standard expected from us but I'm
not impressed with your performance today.
"Of course, we are constantly evaluating ourselves with this sort of
matches and we must continue to show why we are in the national team
with better performance always, "advised the former African Footballer
of the Year.
Golden Eaglets Vs. Ace FC
E. Nwokeocha-A. Mohamed; A. Usman. Ipalibo; A.Bamidele; D.Uzama;
K.Michael; P.Orji; S.Abdullahi; E.Osinachi; V.Osimhen