The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on Tuesday managed to maintain their stranglehold atop their group in the ongoing World Youth FIFA Under-17 Championship, after playing out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Sweden.
The Swedes got on to a flying start in the 11th minute when Valmir Berisha profited from goalkeeper Dele Alampasu’s misjudgement of the ball to tap in from close range.
Against pre-match predictions, Berisha buried in the Scandinavians’ and his second of the day when he beautifully headed in an Anton Saletros cross inside the penalty area in the 19th minute.
But Nigeria responded in fantastic fashion, netting a clinical goal-of-the-tournament-contender just two minutes later. Star forward Kelechi Iheanacho lobbed a wonder pass to on-running Isaac Success, who hit a first-time volley that goalkeeper Sixten Mohlin had no answer to.
The Eaglets evened the score very early into the second half in a manner similar to the Swedes’ first goal. Musa Yahaya hit a speculative effort from outside the penalty zone, goalkeeper Mohlin saving the ball but sprawling after it in vain as it trickled in between his legs into the net.
Sweden reclaimed the lead in the 65th minute through substitute Mirza Vadzic, who was barely a minute on the pitch when he slid home an effort parried by the Nigeria goalkeeper.
But that was not the end of the seesaw drama, as Taiwo Awoniyi, who came on midway through the first half to replace injured Isaac Success, guided in a header that was too strong and fast for Mohlin to save, 10 minutes from time to end the match three goals apiece.
The result leaves Nigeria comfortably atop the group with four points, same as Sweden’s, but with a superior goal difference after Saturday’s 6-1 drubbing of defending Champions Mexico that saw Iheanacho bag four goals.
Eaglets next play Iraq, the group’s whipping boys, on Friday in the group-phase finale, beginning from 2pm Nigerian time.
