The jinx surrounding hosts nations failing to win the nearly 25-year- old FIFA Under-17 World Cup trophy again played out last night as the Golden Eaglets succumbed to a lone goal defeat from hard fighting Swiss tenagers. Thrice the competition has been hosted in Asia (1985, 1993 and 2007) and thrice Nigeria has returned with the trophy as champions. Brazil has picked it once in Europe (Finland), the other two times in Africa (Egypt ’97) and in the Pacific (New Zealand ‘99). The other five previous winners Mexico (Peru 2005), France (T/Tobago 2001), Ghana (Italy ’91) S’Arabia (Scotland ’89) and Soviet Union (Canada ’87) were all achieved away from home as hosts.
However, that did not diminish from the sterling performance put up by the Swiss lads. The boys from Blatters home country, had signalled that they were in Nigeria for business when they topped the tough group in Lagos that had the likes of Brazil and Japan not qualifying. Mexico managed a second placing to pull through.
Playing inside the intimidating Abuja National Stadium with over 60,000 home fans drumming support for the homers who were also the defending champions, Swiss golden moment came in the 57th minute when Grasshopper Zurich ace, Haris Seferovic jumped highest in the Eaglets penalty area to head a corner-kick over Dami Paul in goal for Nigeria and into the far corner for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Of course, the Nigerians had begun the firework, pilling pressure on the Swiss. First, Abdul Ajagun – hero of the quarterfinal with the Koreans in Calabar – hit a wicked shot from 18 yards that Charyl Chappuis had to clear off the line. The Dolphin striker then repeated the dose just seconds later to give the Switzerland defence a real scare. Next, and after just four minutes, Aigbe Oliha’s effort from distance had Swiss goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist scrambling to turn it away.
A lengthy pause in the action – with injuries to Ajagun and Siegrist after a collision – marked the moment when the Swiss finally carved out their first chance. Predictably, it came on the end of a counter-attack in the 12th minute. Defender Janick Kamber roared into the attack and forced the diminutive Nigerian net-minder Dami Paul into a fine diving save.
Things settled down a bit after a ferocious opening quarter-hour, but the smashing and dynamic Nigerians continued to pile pressure on their stunned hosts. A nice piece of service from the right, after some fine interplay between Edafe Egbedi and Oliha, nearly picked out Sani Emmanuel. But the supersub-turned-starter failed to make proper contact with his header from six yards. With a little over five minutes to go in the opening period, Ramon Azeez had a good chance from a set-piece that he could only manage to blaze over the bar. Creating all the chances, but failing to convert, the Nigerians – who had an excellent chance through Emmanuel late in the dying moment – went into the changing rooms looking a little nervous, while the Swiss were happy just to be all-square.
The Swiss, who win their first-ever international crown, can take tremendous pride in being the first team at these finals to keep the previously free-flowing hosts off the scoreboard.
Source: Thisdayonline.com-
