The Golden Eaglets on Friday recorded a 3-0 win over defending champions Mexico at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi to become the most successful team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup with four titles.
The Eaglets had walloped Mexico 6-1 in their opening Group F encounter, consequently making the final a rematch that the Mexicans promised to utilise in revenging the earlier defeat.
El tri managed the first chance on goal of the encounter, when Osvaldo Rodriguez crossed from the left only for Alejandro Diaz to shoot off the right post. Then Ivan Ochoa forced the best out of Dele Alampasu with a glancing header that the keeper tipped over the bar.
However, it was the Eaglets who took the lead off a counter attack led by star midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho, who then fed the ball to striker Taiwo Awoniyi. Awoniyi in turn laid the ball for Musa Yahaha who was about to hit it when Erick Aguirre hit it into his own net.
Yahaya rattled the crossbar with a stunning effort from 20 yards much later while Awoniyi’s fantastic bicycle-kick was stopped by goalkeeper Raul Gudino.
Nigeria scored the second goal on 56 minutes, when Captain Muhammed’s swirling shot was parried by Gudino, allowing Iheanacho to stab home first time. Muhammed himself got his name on the scorers’ sheet 20 minutes from time, leaving the goalkeeper sprawling as his sublime free-kick landed in the top corner.
