Sand Eagles Thump Hosts To Claim Bronze

Nigeria’s Sand Eagles have won the third place game at the Power House Beach Soccer Challenge in Durban, South Africa after beating the hosts 9-3 in the classification game on Sunday.

Nigeria had lost 6-5 to Senegal in the second semi-final on Saturday while the Ivory Coast beat South Africa 9-1 to advance and set the two sides for the third place match.

The Sand Eagles went ahead inside the first minute through Ibenegbu Ikechukwu’s clever ball after being teed up by Abu Azeez.

Emmanuel missed a header at the far post that would have put Nigeria 2-0 up as the Beach Eagles swooned over the South Africans.

Goalkeeper Oladepo made two brilliant saves from Fanni as South Africa tried to claw their way back to into the game but were soon undone as Abu Azeez beat two defenders to slot home and make it 2-0 to the Sand Eagles.

South Africa pulled one back through Ndlovu who scored straight from a corner kick to peg it at 2-1.

The second period started with South Africa equalising through Power again for his second of the game but Abu Azeez notched his sixth of the tournament and Nigeria’s third with a turn and shot to restore the lead to 3-2.

Nigeria got a penalty after Fanni fouled Abu Azeez but the Warri Wolves man missed the spot kick as the South African goalkeeper saved his kick.

Ndlovu got South Africa back into the game with a well taken shot to beat Olalekan to make it 3-3 in a very interesting second period.

Azeez got Nigeria back into the lead again just before the end of the second period with a snap shot which rested in the back of the net as the second period ended with Nigeria leading 4-3.

Ibenegbu cracked the upright at the start of the third and final period as Abu Azeez tested the South Africa goalkeeper with a fierce volley before Victor Tale’s free kick gave Nigeria a two goal cushion.

Abu Azeez’s goal made it 6-3 with four minutes left in the third period as the Sand Eagles began to ascertain their supremacy late on in the game. An own goal by South African captain Nester made 7-3 for Nigeria.

Poor defending by South Africa gave Abu a clear sight at goal and he didn’t fail with his fifth of the game and Nigeria’s eight of the evening.

Emmanuel made it nine for Nigeria after several misses by Ibenegbu and Azeez as the the Sand Eagles comfortably saw the game off to pick the bronze medal of the 2015 Power Horse African Challenge in Durban, South Africa

Nigeria starting V vs South Africa