Senegal 2015: Nigeria survives Mali scare, wins 3-2 0

 COACH Samsom Siasia’s Dream Team VI survived a second half scare from the Junior Eagles of Mali to win 3-2 in her opening Group B encounter in M’ bour last night.

A very confident Nigerian side in the first half with a 3-0 advantage looked lost in the second half as the Malians ran rings around the Dream Team goal area which resulted in Mali scoring two goals in the second half and threatened severally up till the stoppage time.

Tunisia-based Junior Ajayi scored twice, while Usman Mohammed was also on target for the Dream Team VI.

However, before the goals from the Nigerian side, Mali carved out the better chances in front of goal and could even have scored within the first minute, but Adama Traore’s effort came off the crossbar and back into play.

Nigeria soaked the pressure, be­fore they finally got scoring almost against the run of play in the 16th minute when Ajayi stylishly back­heeled home after a superb run down the right flank by the impressive Stanley Dimgba.

Mali continued to chase the game but it was Nigeria who doubled their lead after 34 minutes, when Usman Mohammed turned in a loose ball from inside the box after a great cut-back by Sincere Seth.

But just a minute after this second goal, Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel produced a big save when he blocked at point-blank range the dangerous Adama Traore.

Mali also threatened to pull a goal back five minutes to the interval, but again Daniel was alert to cut out the danger at the feet of Niane.

In first half stoppage time, Ju­nior Ajayi made it 3-0 after Mali goalkeeper Diarra failed to hold a powerful shot fired by skipper Azu­buike Okechukwu from the edge of the box.

Mali came out smoking hot in the second half scoring two quick goals through Adama Niane from the pen­alty spot after 55 minutes from a foul inside the box by Oghenekaro Etebo.

Ten minutes later, Souleyman Sissoko got Mali their second goal when he drove through the Nigeria defence before he slotted past the goalkeeper.