Nigeria takes top spot.

Sensational Nigeria rounded off their
Group F campaign with a 5-0
hammering of Iraq at the Rashid
Stadium in Dubai, a result which is
good enough to see them finish top of
the section and book a Round of 16
date with Iran at the FIFA U-17 World
Cup in UAE.
Four goals in the first half set the
tempo for the contest which was never
really going to end well for the Iraqis,
who now head for home after three
straight defeats. Mexico and Sweden
also go through from the section as
second and third-place finishers
respectively.
Nigeria hadn't lost a group-stage game
at a U-17 World Cup since way back in
1993, and they weren't in the mood to
start today. Chidiebere Nwakali hit the
woodwork after only two minutes, and
it was a hint of things to come as the
Africans roared into incredible form.
Seconds later, they were in the lead
when Musa Yahaya was fouled in the
area and namesake Musa Muhammed
converted form the spot.
The scorer turned provider a minute
later, his cross picking out Nwakali
who had loads of time and acres of
space to put the ball away from close
range. The Iraqis were stunned, but
they managed a shot in the 13th
minute. Captain Mohammed Salam's
free-kick was saved well by Dele
Alampasu. The effort was a false dawn,
however, and Nigeria were 3-0 up five
minutes later. Kelechi Iheanacho, the
Golden Eaglets' danger-man, laid on a
fine pass for Taiwo Awoniyi, but it
broke loose and fell to the feet of Musa
Yahaya who made no mistake.
Iraq's coach Muwafaq Adlool, knowing
his side needed a win to have any hope
of moving on, made a change, bringing
on Yasir Ammar for Mustafa
Mohammed. The substitution sparked
a positive spell for his side, but the next
goal came at the other end with the
Nigerians in irresistible mood. Yahaya
took advantage of a rather grand error
by the keeper Hayder Mohammed, and
poked home with ease from six yards
out just before the half.
There wasn't much action in the
second half, with the Nigerians taking
their foot off the accelerator and Iraq
looking defeated and out of ideas. On
the stroke of full-time, however,
Nigeria scored a fifth when substitute
Chigozi Obasi hit home from 20 yards
to take his side's goals-for tally in the
group stages to 14, just one less than
Brazil.
Group F has proven one of the
strongest here at the UAE finals and it's
only just that three of its combatants –
three-time champions Nigeria, Sweden
and defending champions Mexico –
should go through. Iraq, playing in
their first junior finals, can hold their
heads high as they head for home.

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