Nigeria lifts U-23 cup, players get $11,000 each

Nifemi Daniel

Two great goals from Warri Wolves striker Oghenekaro Etebo and several fantastic saves from goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel was all what Nigeria needed to beat Algeria to win the 2015 African U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal on Saturday.

Etebo opened scoring in the 14 minutes from the penalty spot after powering into the Algeria goal area and was brought down by Algeria’s Ayoub Abdellaoui for a penalty.

The Warri Wolves striker sent Algeria goalkeeper Sahli the wrong way as Nigeria took the lead.

The Coach Samson Siasia tutored lads continued to dominate possession, but Algeria fought back to draw level on the half hour when Zinedine Ferhat’s dangerous cross from the right was headed home by Segun Oduduwa into his own net.

Etebo then restored Nigeria’s lead in the 41st minute when he again drove into the Algerian defence before firing past the onrushing goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the competition.

Late into the match, goalkeeper Daniel saved a penalty kick after Oduduwa was adjudged by the centre referee to have brought down an Algerian player.

But Daniel was calm and calculated to save the kick from the spot as Nigeria cruised home to victory.

Meanwhile, the players have been rewarded with the sum of $11,000 each for winning the U-23 Nations Cup.

The team which was hit with financial crises during the tournament following the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation to pay their match bonuses and allowance, can now smile home following the visit of the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Alhasan Yakmut who watched the final against Algeria.

Each player was paid $4,000 for defeating Algeria in the final.

They also got the naira equivalent of $3,000 each for the semi-final win over hosts Senegal, $2,000 for the opening-day win over Mali and a $1,000 for the draws with Egypt and Algeria.

They were also paid $100 per day for the 10 days they trained in The Gambia prior to the championship.

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