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Jet-lagged U-23 Eagles whip Japan 5-4

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Despite arriving in Brazil few hours to the first game, Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles proved bookmakers wrong with a 5-4 thrilling win over Japan.

An enterprising Sadiq Umar opened scoring for the team while CAF 2015 Most Promising Player in Africa, Oghenekaro Etebo, hit four goals in the match played early Friday morning.

The team arrived just 6½ hours before the match’s start at 9pm (2am Nigerian time) due to problems related to their flight from their training base in Atlanta.

It took just seven minutes for Nigeria to take the lead when Sadiq Umar opened the scoring after pouncing on a rebound, but a Shinzo Koroki penalty two minutes later levelled matters after Stanley Amuzi fouled a player inside the area.

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But Nigeria were back ahead two minutes later as a Shehu Abdullahi found Etebo and he made no mistake with the left-footed shot, but Takumi Minamino brought Japan level again in the 13th minute.

Etebo again put the West African team in the lead as the 20-year-old made it 3-2 in the 42nd minute after good work from Sadiq.

He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot six minutes after the restart after Sadiq was fouled in the box. An incredible fourth goal from the striker put Nigeria 5-2 ahead in the 66th minute after some poor goalkeeping.

Despite trailing by a huge margin, Japan refused to go down without a fight and reduced the deficit through new Arsenal signing Takuma Asano in the 70th minute. Musashi Suzuki went on to make it 5-4 in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late for Japan.

The win at the Arena da Amazônia, Manaus pushed Nigeria to the top of Group B after Sweden and Colombia could only draw 2-2 in the opening game of the section.

Nigeria will next meet Sweden at the same venue in their second game on Sunday.

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