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Ingrid Vidal ® of Columbia and Osinachi Ohale (L) of Nigeria compete for the ball during the 2010 FIFA Women's Semi Final match between Columbia and Nigeria at the Bielefeld Arena on July 29, 2010 in Bielefeld, Germany. Photo: COURTESY FIFA


Our Falconets are history makers p>By Jide Alaka


July 30, 2010 03:00AM
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Nigeria's U-20 women's team made history on Thursday when they beat Colombia 1-0 to book a final date with hosts, Germany on Sunday.

The Falconets, playing in white, got off the starting blocks early and were quickly on the score sheet.

A long punt from captain, Joy Jegede, took a wicked bounce and hit the cross bar leaving Ebere Orji with an open goal and Nigeria had scored the fastest goal in Germany timed at 1:29 seconds. Thereafter, the Colombians tried to play their passing game but most times were hassled by the duo of Cecilia Nku and Amarachi Okoronkwo supported by Rebecca Orji who played the perfect foil for her two attacking midfielders.

The Colombians had a chance to get the equaliser in the 17th minute off a corner kick as Natalia Gaitan's shot cum cross is finally cleared by Okoronkwo. The South Americans were then left with the only option of shooting from far and Yorely Rincon almost surprised Alaba Jonathan in goal for the Falconets. The referee was forced to make a decision in favour of Colombia in the 30th minute when Desire Oparanozie seemed to have been tripped on the way to goal.

In attack, the Nigerian's side's forays were breaking down at the feet of Esther Sunday, who was trying to forage for goals single-handedly. She was removed from the action by Coach Adat Egan in the 37th minute and replaced by Charity Adule.

Colombia pile on the pressure

The second half started in the same way as the first half ended. The Colombians were straight into the attack and won a corner kick fifty seconds into the second stanza. Nigeria's first chance in the second half almost materialises when Desire Oparanozie bulldozed her way down the right flank to earn a corner kick. The ensuing corner kick almost resulted in the second goal as it causes panic in the Colombian box.

An excellent two-woman move between Charity Adule and Ebere Orji opened up the Colombian defence to give Adule a chance to shoot on goal but she shot wide. Yorely Rincon continued her shooting practise but she marginally missed the mark. By the 65th minute, the Falconets were starting to show signs of tiredness; may be because of the extra time and penalties they went through before dislodging the might of the USA in the quarter finals.

Coach Egan made a change by bringing on Soo Adekwagh to replace Amarachi Okoronkwo, who had apparently run herself into the ground. Katerin Castro had come in for the Colombians and was a handful for the centre back duo of Joy Jegede and Osinachi Ohale, who did a wonderful job of shackling the strapping Colombian attacker. Jonathan made a diving save to her right in the 72nd minute to preserve the fragile lead of the Nigerians.

Play was then concentrated in the Nigerian half as the Colombians went all out in search of the equaliser. They almost had it in the 79th minute when Rincon's 25metre shot crashed against the cross-bar, letting off the Falconets for the umpteenth time. Nigeria should have killed off the game as a contest in the 85th minute saw Orji volleying her shot over the bar after being set up by her strike partner, Oparanozie.

The Falconets were at the receiving end for the remainder of the match but held on to claim a famous victory and send the Nigerians at home and in the stadium into scenes of delirium.

The Falconets have landed in the finals and will face the might of the Germans on Sunday
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After 29 years as a Fuji musician, ‘Orobokibo’ crooner, Abass Akande Adeniyi, a.k.a Obesere, will, in September,release a hip-hop album.

The singer, formerly a boxer, proved he was capable by featuring in debutant, Diamondz’s single, ‘Bosokoto.’

The album, which will be sold for N1000, will feature the likes of Timaya, Lord of Ajasa and 9ice. If this works out, he will be the first Fuji musician to make a full Hip-hop album.