Abdulmuiz Adeleke may well have given Nigeria a lifeline to next year’s U17 AFCON after he scored a stoppage time winner against hosts Ghana.
Nigeria won the third-place playoffs 3-2 and they will now have to wait to know if that will be enough to send them through to the U17 AFCON finals as the third qualifier from WAFU B.
Adeleke shot against the crossbar in time added on, before he made sure with a pile driver moments later that beat the Ghana goalkeeper for the winning goal.
This was a thrilling ‘Jollof Derby’ that lived up to its top billing with five goals.
The first half ended 2-2 with Nigeria taking the lead in the ninth minute through Imrana Muhammad.
Ghana then scored twice through Harve Gbafa from set pieces only for Nigeria to fight back and draw level through the impressive Adeleke.
Adeleke netted four goals in this tournament.
In the 56th minute, the striker was at the end of a big chance, but he shot directly at the onrushing Ghana goalkeeper for his effort to roll out for a corner.
Goalkeeper Chinedu Dominic pushed for a corner in the 62nd minute as Ghana surged forward for the winning goal.
In the 69th minute, injured Boluwatife Ekishola was replaced by a striker, Daniel Arierhi, as Nigeria went for broke.
In the 82nd minute, Narby came close to give Ghana the third goal but he blasted way off target a rebound from Dominic save.
And just whe it looked like the game will be decided by a penalty shootout, Adeleke stepped forward to fire the Golden Eaglets to a podium finish.
Golden Eaglets Starting XI vs Ghana: Chinedu Dominic – Sylvester Chika, Chibuike Okorie, Boluwatife Ekishola (Daniel Arierhi 69), Abdulwaris Yunus – Destiny Samuel, John Ogwuche, Simon Cletus (Captain) – Imrana Muhmmad, Abdulmuiz Adeleke, Edward Ochigbo
