Dream Team seal 2-1 win over Congo

LUKMAN OLOGUNRO

Junior Ajayi scored twice as Nigeria U23 team edged their congolese counterpart 2-1 in the first leg of the CAF U23 Championship qualifier in Port Harcourt.

Nigeria slightly dominated the opening half but were frsutrated by the visitors who were banking on the magic of Claude Le Roy, a coach who has often proved a handful for Nigeria.

The Frenchman’s last visit to Nigeria was in the 2-1 win over Nigeria at the qalifier for the 2015 AFCON which his side won 3-2 a result that played a huge part in Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the biennial event.

There were fears that the story would be the same but the frayed nerves of the capacity-filled Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium were cooled when Shooting Stars striker Ajayi broke the deadlock for Samson Siasia’s team in the 47th minute after Congo goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi failed to hold on to an acute-angled shot by Godwin Saviour to send the crowd into delirium.

The player was on song again five minutes later and a route was looming with Nigeria’s persistent domination.

A penalty appeal by Nigeria in the 59th minute was overruled by the Kenyan referee, but television replays later showed it should have been given as Etebo Oghenekaro’s shot was handled by a Congolese defender inside the box.

Nigeria made three changes thereafter with Musa Yahaya, Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Aminu coming in as they went in search of more goals but the Congolese pulled a goal back through Moise Nkonkou in the 67th minute to make the second leg in in Pointe -Noire in a forthnight precarious.

As the game drifted towards the end, Awoniyi failed to connect a low drive across the Congolese goal in the 75th minute.

Oghenekaro was then denied another opportunity in stoppage time by the Congolese goalkeepe