Nigeria make history by claiming their fourth U17 World Cup beating Mexico 3-0

The victorious Nigerian team

Nigeria came into the final hoping to make history and become the first side to claim the U17 title for the fourth time. In their path, was a Mexico side, who were out for revenge after they had been hammered 6-1 in the opener by the Super Eagles. But, in the end, it was Nigeria who came out on top as they beat Mexico 3-0 thanks to an own goal from E Aguirre in the first half and then two from Iheanacho and Musa Muhammed in the second. In the process, they created history, and did so, in some style.

The manner of the victory was in keeping with their form throughout the tournament, which was nothing short of mesmerizing as they had conceded the least and scored the most of any team who reached the semifinals. They had the tournament’s best player in Kelechi Iheanacho, who was pulling the strings in attack from the No.10 position. Many were expecting a free flowing game, between two sides, who were in fine attacking form and they duly obliged.

Mexico started the game strongly and has the ball for the first two minutes and managed the first chance on goal after just six minutes, as Alejandro Diaz narrowly missed the target after a wonderful cross from Osvaldo Rodriguez from the left. Barely a few minutes later, Ivan Ochoa – their hero in the semi-final win over Argentina – saw his off-balance header pushed over the bar by Dele Alampasu, who went onto make a few more crucial saves as the game went on.

Mexico didn’t make too much of the ensuing corner but Nigeria did, as they went on a lightning quick counter-attack as Mexico were caught with too many men pushed up in attack. With just one Mexican defender in position, all Iheanacho had to do was the lay the ball forward. Which he duly did and eventually it came to Musa Yahaha at the edge of the box. Just as the midfielder was about to take his shot, Erick Aguirre attempt to dispossess him ended up in the back of the next and the Super Eagles had taken the lead inside 10 minutes.

With the score at 1-0, Musa Muhammed’s rampaging runs up the right side was giving the Mexicans all sorts of problems at it was from his cross that Awoniyi hit a terrific bicycle-kick which forced a magnificent save from Raul Gudino in the dying moments of the half.

In the second half, although Mexico had the lion’s share of possession, they couldn’t carve out any clear cut openings with it and their finishing, which had been their pillar of strength so far, turned into their Achilles heel. Every time Nigeria got the ball and went forward in attack, they looked threatening and they made their advantage count in the 56th minute when they scored the second.

Captain Muhammed unleashed a wicked swirling shot that Gudino spilled onto the feet of the most dangerous man on the pitch, and he was punished as Iheanacho notched up his sixth goal of the tournament. Then, with 10 minutes to go, Muhammed had a goal of his own, after he curled a sublime free-kick into the top corner.

Towards the end of the game, as much as Mexico huffed and puffed, the defending champions were no match for the Nigerians, who made it four out of four in Asia, as it was the fourth time they won the title in Asian soil after winning in China, Japan and Korea, the previous three times.

They also ended the tournament with 26 goals, the most of any team in the history of this tournament, beating Germany’s record of 24 set in 2011. They also had the tournament’s Silver Boot and Golden Ball winner in Iheanacho, who ended the tournament with a staggering six goals and seven assists, to finish as the Super Eagles stand-out performer of the tournament.

Anyone who was watching the tournament in UAE would tell you that the best won, in the end as Nigeria remained the only team to win all their seven encounters and break numerous records on the way to their fourth U17 title, one more than Brazil, making them the most successful team in the history of this competition.