The Flying Eagles failed to reach the final of the 2013 African Youth Championships following their 2-0 lose to Egypt on Tuesday in Ain Temouchent, Algeria.
The Coach John Obuh tutored side missed the opportunity to successfully defend the title they won two years ago when a brace from ENPPI starlet Mahmoud Abdul-Monem ‘Kahraba’ handed the Young Pharaohs a deserved win and a passage to Saturday’s final against Group A rivals Ghana.
Nigeria once more proved to be wasteful in front of goal and they paid dearly for it.
“We did not take our chances especially in the first half,” lamented Obuh. “Egypt were more determined and they went for it. They were also lucky.”
Egypt coach Rabiea Yassin admitted Nigeria’s dominance in the first half, but he made some attacking changes in the second half and these paid off with two goals.
“Nigeria controlled the first half, but they did not have any clear chances,” Yassin said. “We made changes and we took over the game in the second half.
“We did not have a typical centre-forward and so we had to attack from the sides using Kahraba and Ahmed Rafat.”
Egypt, Nigeria, Mali and Ghana have already qualified for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup by reaching the last four.
Meanwhile, Mali will take on Nigeria in a Group B rematch on Friday by 5.30pm in Oran to determine the third-placed team.
