14 April 2015 05:00
The 10-1 win for Nigeria over Seychelles was harder fought than the final score shows but it was still a convincing win for Nigeria. Things began slower than the eventual winners would have liked but when they got through the Seychelles defense, they kept moving forward, building a big lead. The hosts played with high energy and did not play poorly, especially considering this was their first CAF African Beach Soccer Championship, but the Nigerian veterans helped carry them to the big win. The win gives Nigeria three points and the top spot in Group A. Nigeria will next face Egypt on Thursday, hoping to secure another win and more points. Seychelles will face another tough opponent, Cote d’Ivoire, on Wednesday but they will surely use what they learned in this match to surprise their future opponents.
Seychelles knew that they had a tough task ahead of them, defeating the African giants, Nigeria, but they began play very well, limiting the Sand Eagles’ chances. The Nigerians would not be held down forever and the favourites netted the first goal of the match on a shot from Emeka, to go up 1-0, heading into the middle of the frame. Nigeria added another goal before the buzzer sounded the end of the opening frame, grabbing the 2-0 advantage; however Seychelles was fighting hard and were earning the respect of their opponents and new fans. The enthusiasm from the hosts was even more evident in the middle frame, but their acrobatic skills had not produced any goals as the game progressed into the second. The Nigerians added a third goal on a long and low dribbling shot from Emmanuel, putting the score at 3-0. Seychelles could not stop all the Nigerian shots and the score sat at 5-0 for the Sand Eagles going into the final minutes of the period. The first ever goal in an African Beach Soccer Championship was well worth the wait, as Mathiot rocketed a shot from distance that bounced off the inside of the crossbar to put the score at 6-1, and it also excited the crowd. The second twelve minutes finished with Nigeria up 7-1.
The final frame was a great display of Seychelles playing tight defense, even on their heels, and keeping the Nigerians from adding to their lead early in the third period. The eighth goal did come for the Nigerians, on a great individual effort from Ibenegbu, due in part to their constant attacks and shots from all over the pitch. Nigeria did look eager to add to their lead, 9-1, late in the match, but Seychelles was playing with composure and sacrificing their bodies to block shots and keep things as they were. When the three periods had come to an end, the Nigerians had earned a 10-1 win.
Goals: 0-1: Emeka, min. 8 (1); 0-2: Ibenegbu, min. 6 (1); 0-3: Emmanuel, min. 10 (2); 0-4: Abu, min. 9 (2); 0-5: Olawale, min. 4 (2); 0-6: Emeka, min. 2 (2); 1-6: Mathiot, min. 2 (2); 1-7: Taiwo, min. 1 (2); 1-8: Ibenegbu, min. 7 (3); 1-9: Tale, min. 5 (3); 1-10: Abu, min. 1 (3).
CAF AFRICAN BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SEYCHELLES 2015
Results Today:
Tuesday 14.04.15
15:00 – Senegal 7-3 Morocco (Group B)
16:15 – Ghana 4-9 Madagascar (Group B)
17:30 – Seychelles 1-10 Nigeria (Group A)
18:45 – Egypt vs. Cote d’Ivoire (Group A)
Upcoming Matches:
Wednesday 15.04.15
15:00 – Nigeria vs. Egypt (Group A)
16:15 – Cote d’Ivoire vs. Seychelles (Group A)
17:30 – Morocco vs. Ghana (Group B)
18:45 – Madagascar vs. Senegal (Group B)
Source: www.beachsoccer.com
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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