Nigeria’s U-23 team a survived a second half scare from their Malian counterparts to record a 3-2 win in their opening fixture at the U-23 African Nations Cup in M’bour yesterday.
Dream Team VI, who are coached by Samson Siasia, were emphatic about their game plan in the first half and went into the break with a 3-0 advantage.
Tunisia-based Junior Ajayi scored a brace whilst Usman Mohammed was also on target for the Dream Team VI.
Ajayi opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a beautiful backheeled goal after a superb work on the right wing by Stanley Dimgba.
Usman Mohammed doubled the lead in the 34th minute, pouncing on a cut-back by Sincere Seth to score from close range.
Ajayi grabbed his second of the night deep into first half stoppage time, reacting quickest to the rebound from Mali goalkeeper, Diarra’s efforts to keep out Azubuike Okechukwu’s shot from the edge of the box.
However, the Nigerian team was no match for a resurgent Malian team in the second half.
Ten minutes after the restart, the Malians were awarded a penalty, which Adama Niane cooly converted.
Souleyman Sissoko turned the game on its head with his team’s second goal just after the hour mark but it was too little too late as Nigeria held on for the big win.
With this win, Nigeria sits comfortably at the summit of Group B with three points, two more than Egypt and Algeria who could only manage a draw.
