Soccer-Nigeria whack Malawi 5-0 in group B

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 25 Feb. '99,

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 25 Feb. '99, Nigeria whacked Malawi 5-0 in the Africa Under-20 Youth Football Tournament's group "B" match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in Kumasi Thursday. The sturdily-built Flying Eaglets proved too strong for the Malawians as the "Anago" boys bulldozed their way through their frail and sluggish opponents. The Sourthern Africans did not have the answer to the power-soccer of the Nigerians, who scored the goals at will. The most promising player on the Malawian side was mid- fielder Mwangonde Muzipasi, who occasionally sliced through the tight Nigerian defence with cheeky ease but poor marksmanship on the part of his colleagues robbed them of goals. The Malawians nearly gave Nigeria the shocker in the 12th minute when their defence was overran but striker Muzupasi's powerful shot was parried to corner by goalkeeper Sam Okoye and the resultant kick was wasted. Nigeria scored the leader as soon as the Malawians started recoiling into their shells in the 15th minute through Garba Hashimu, who tapped the ball, which was floated from the right flank, into the net. A minute later, Nigeria's play-maker Babangida Haruna staged a dribbling run through the Malawian defence but his curling finish-off was stopped on the goal-line by central defender and skipper Peter Mponda with goalkeeper Matinga Malunga Kachibowo was displaced. Nigeria wasted a chance in the 19th minute when Babangida outpaced the defence and crossed the ball to Garba Hashimu but he fumbled in front of goal. Four minutes later, Pius Ikeda came on for full back Lawal Muyiwa. Hashimu atoned for his earlier mistake and raised the score to 2-0 in the 37th minute when Malawi failed to stop a move as the enraged Nigerians pounded their goal area. Gambian referee Silla Malick rightly awarded the Nigerians a spot-kick when Muzipasi felled Nigeria's Moses Abubakar in the box. Babangida scored from the rebound after his kick had been punched into play by the goalkeeper Kachibowo to raise the score to 3-0 for Nigeria in the 39th minute. Muzipasi failed to score in the 47th minute for Malawi when the Nigerian defence, for once, crumbled under persistent attacks. Six minutes later, Malawi were to concede a fourth goal when substitute Pius Ikeda scored after the Nigerians had confused them with quick runs and fast dashes. Musa Abubakar completed the rout in the 80th minute for Nigeria, who top group B with six points, to become the second nation to qualify for the semi-finals and Nigeria '99 after group A leaders Ghana. A last-minute attempt to score a face-saving goal for the Malawians was wasted as Akidu Fundi shot off target before an empty net in the 89th minute. Scorers: Nigeria: Garba Hashimu (15, 37), Babangida (39 pen), Pius Ikeda (53) and Musa Abubakar (80). GRi