Dasuki Drags FG To Court

The embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) of Nigeria, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has sued the federal government over infringement to his fundamental human rights

Dasuki (r) in a recent court appearance

Dasuki also alleged that his life was under treat by operatives of the DSS.  In his suit, Dasuki through his counsel, Ahmed Raji, sought among other things a mandatory order from the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Nigerian government and its security agencies to vacate his Abuja house at 13 John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect.

He also asked the court to stop the siege laid on his house and to remove all barricades both human and non-human obstructing his freedom.

He said the security siege in his residence is currently constituting a threat to his life.

A motion on notice filed pursuant to section 36(5) 37 and 41 of the 1999 constitution and sections 1(1) and (2) and 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Dasuki also sought for order of the court extending order of November 3 permitting treatment of his ailment abroad.

The motion on notice was premised on five grounds including the request to enforce the 3 week permission granted him by the court to keep to rescheduled medical appointment with his physician abroad.

He said that the federal government through the operatives of the SSS and other security agencies have frustrated the order by barricading his apartment since the permission was granted.

Dasuki also asked the court to extend the order of November 3 since it could not be implemented due to the action of the security agents.

A date is yet to be fixed for hearing on the suits by the court.

It will be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja recently granted Dasuki permission for application treatment abroad.
But less than 48 hours after the court’s pronouncement, the Department of State Security Service (DSS) invaded the Asokoro, Abuja residence of the former NSA to prevent him from travelling. 
The security agency stated that the reason why it deprived Dasuki from his journey abroad was owing to the fact that he had refused to appear before a committee set up by the federal government to investigate a N2billion arms transaction by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
A highly placed source in Dasuki’s camp had disclosed to Naij.com that there were plans by security agents to re-arrest the former NSA at the airport on his way out of the country.
The source who craved anonymity as he was not permitted to speak on the issue said Dasuki cancelled his 7:30 pm flight after he got wind of the news.

U17 Champions Are Expected To Hit Abuja On Wednesday

The entire crew of the history-making Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are expected to arrive Abuja on Wednesday after the team successfully defended their title at the just concluded FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

Eaglets celebrate their triumph at Chile.

The Nigerian contingent had departed Santiago for Dubai enroute Buenos Aires, where they will join a connecting Emirates airline which is expected to touch-down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday November 11.
The Emmanuel Amunike-turored Eaglets defeated their Malian counterparts in a pulsating encounter 2 – 0, helping Nigeria retain the title they also won in 2013.
As if the trophy was not enough for the Nigerians, Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, was named the most valuable player of the tournament and was presented with the golden ball.
Victor Osimhen bagged the golden-boot having scored 10 times at the tournament making him the all-time leading scorer at the age-grade competition.
The Nigerian number-9 was also voted the second best player of the tournament.
Meanwhile, President Buhari who was military head of state 30 years ago when Nigeria won the inaugural FIFA cadet World Cup in China, and actually gave the team the nickname ‘Golden Eaglets’ has sent his congratulatory message to the team 2015 team.
Buhari applauds the exemplary zeal, determination, commitment, hard work, patriotism and soccer artistry which the youthful Golden Eaglets put on display throughout the tournament to win the championship for a record fifth time.

No End In Sight For Boko Haram As December Approaches?

The month of December — the initial deadline set by President Muhammadu to crush Boko Haram — is approaching fast. Are the Nigerian Army and the Buhari-led government going to fulfill their pledge and purge Nigeria of terrorism? 

 the government must do more than just root out what is on the surface and focus on eliminating the very causes that make Nigerians join terror groups.
On October 2, 2015 Suleiman Ibrahim Wada got a call from his friend Sani in Kano. Sani asked if a bomb had gone off in Kuje. Suleiman Ibrahim replied that he had heard a loud sound and noticed people going about anxiously but was not sure. The line dropped on the other end, and Suleiman Ibrahim decided to take a walk to a corner shop nearby to get some credit and respond to his friend. He made it to the shop, but he almost did not make it out.
As Suleiman Ibrahim stepped out of a shop along Zamfara garage in Kuje, a loud sound and huge wall of flame knocked him off his feet and dropped him in a pile of rubble with the decapitated and burnt bodies over 50 feet away from the shop.
The next morning, a mass burial was held in Kuje. About twenty Muslims were buried, and the local government chairman immediately announced at a gathering that those injured would get free treatment from the government.
The message was clear to many: the dead are gone and there seems no end to the massacre that is Boko Haram. It also seems obvious that Suleiman Ibrahim was not the first, and would not be the last of the casualties of the dreaded sect.
More than that, a town as peaceful as Kuje had now joined the ranks of places plagued with suspicion and fear of one another.

Any exit strategy for Boko Haram?

Speaking to the Al-Jazeera reporter Mehdi Hassan in the talk show UpFront, President Muhammadu Buhari made it quite clear that he intended to stay, and not resign, until the end of Boko Haram. He however did not give an exact date when that would happen.
This largely contrasts his promises during the election campaign. Promises that ushered him in and have maintained the nation’s morale of keeping the hope alive.
Among the many problems that have turned a group of rebellious citizens into diehard fighters for an incoherent cause were their realities: endemic poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, lack of commercial activity in the region. The drying up of the Lake Chad basin has translated into the end-of-means of livelihood for millions of people.
These configurations still exist; these seeds that perhaps sprouted Boko Haram are still there.
A lot of good things can be said about the current government’s efforts towards combating Boko Haram. The president has in many interviews commended the military decisions. Occupied grounds have been gained back, trainings and re-trainings have been embarked on, and the tactical base was shifted from Abuja to Maiduguri to get a more onground response to the situation in the northeast.
But other related problems remain largely unresolved. Moreso, very little is being said about them. Take, for instance, the salary scheme for the Nigerian soldiers fighting in the heart of the insurgency, Several ivestigative reports have suggested they receive a paltry N1,000 a day — as against their colleagues in the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions that receive almost the same amount in dollars.

What may become of the Chibok Girls?

Whether the Chibok girls are still alive and recoverable, and if they are going to be released are among the questions that both the immediate past and current administrations cannot give a straightforward answers to.
Ibrahim Garba Wala, a member of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, labelled the activities of the group as seeking to keep every government reminded of their responsibilities to those who appointed them. He also added that, during a recent visit to Chibok, he spoke to an army personnel member who frowned on the group’s activities aimed at advocating the kidnapped girls’ release. “You people are the ones making the recovery of the girls hard,” the military man said.
According to this army source, not only has the movement inspired a worldwide awareness and support campaign, but magnified the strength of Boko Haram in the global terrorism space, and also might have given the terrorist the idea to hold the girls as political assets for future negotiations. All of the above has hindered efforts at the Chibok girls’ recovery.

State policing and intelligence gathering

Boko Haram’s transition is equally visible in its pattern of attacks. The group began by bombing and attacking police stations, and afterwards military facilities and churches. Then they sought international relevance by using the Internet, and pushed further by attacking schools. They have now shifted to bombing mosques.
What the seemingly stark disconnect between several attackers has revealed is that the group operates by using seemingly independent sleeper cells in different regions. The apprehended attackers have not mentioned their relationship with Abubakar Shekau or any other leader of the Boko Haram group.
The approach at curbing Boko Haram undeniably has to also go through a methodical follow-up. Three states in the northeast have begun advocating for state policing in the region. The use of the civilian JTF has benefited the Nigerian military thanks to the strong motivation and commitment of those being attacked have to ending the violence. Local people are better at spotting strangers, suspicious characters and activities in their location.

Will Buhari take the option of negotiation?

One of the first President Muhammadu Buhari’s steps after assuming office was going to Chad to discuss, with Idris Derby, critical approaches towards ending the Boko Haram problem. The security challenge was top priority for Buhari’s campaign, as much as it was for Nigerians in the northeast and other parts of the country.
But while speaking on Up Front with Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan, President Buhari hinted at the possibility of negotiating with the terrorist group. The dangers behind this possibility are almost limitless, most obvious being that it would encourage imitation by other groups that seek political relevance.
In truth, it seems the Nigerian government already has a platform for negotiating with Boko Haram. A platform which may have been used to release a French priest kidnapped by Boko Haram from Koza, a French family abducted by the group from Dabanga, and some captives of Boko Haram from Bama in 2013. Boko Haram had demanded the release of their members’ wives and children who were apprehended by the Nigerian security operatives. They did not ask for amnesty, and they did not state they would do away with their shared ideology.
As the government of President Buhari marches towards the December date set for the service chiefs to end Boko Haram, it is wise to point out that if this is to become feasible, a lot of things will become mandatory to solve. Beyond the brilliant blueprints aimed at eliminating the militants economically, ideologically and politically, the Buhari-led government must also dig deeper to reach the root causes of the problem in the region.
A depth which will truly be reached when we begin to talk a little more about poverty.

We'll Fight 'Danfo Drivers' To Submission – Olakpe

The newly appointed chairman of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Chris Olapke, has given himself a target of three months to rid the state of gridlocks adding that his major focus is to ensure that he battles commercial drivers to submission.
Olakpe also said he will collaborate with other forces which have to do with maintaining traffic in the state to help tackle congestion that have become a menace to the state.

A cross-section of commercial buses popularly called ‘danfo’ in Lagos.

The retired assistant inspector-general of police was screened on the floor of the Lagos state House of Assembly when he made the promise.
He added that he had mapped out strategies for effective traffic management adding that as one born and brought up in Lagos, he understands the many problems especially that had to do with gridlocks in the state.
While calling on the state government to fix bad roads, many of which he said are in deplorable conditions, he also said LASTMA needed adequate funding and better welfare for its officials.
This, he said would push and encourage its officials to work effectively.
Currently, he said the agency has only 50 motorcycles and less than 2,100 for the about 20 million residents and road users in the state.
He said he would build a robust relationship between the agency and residents of the state and maintain this relationship.
“We are also urging members of the public to see something about traffic jams and say something especially about armed robbers,” he said while linking both with an explanation that robbers are fund of attacking motorists majorly during traffic challenges.
He urged for suggestions on how to curb corruption in the agency adding that he would create a LASTMA community relations committee to embody stakeholders in the transport industry so as to reduce the apathy between the people and the agency, while agreeing that there is a lot of work to be done.
Part of his strategies is to create traffic mayors to augment the limited number of officials of the agency.
“We shall liaise with the executive for their (officials of the agency) welfare. We call on government to really fund and assist the agency so that we begin to have ‘the people’s LASTMA’.”
He further called on the state to build designated bus stops so that commercial drivers would not have any excuse when caught.
“There is going to be strict compliance with the law. Enforcement will bite and bite very hard.
“I will be an enemy to Lagosians because if I don’t become an enemy, I won’t work well,” he said adding that he had warned his friends and family not to call him if they err,” he charged.
The LASTMA boss concluded that he would devise means of punishing officials of the agency caught in acts that are detrimental to their duties.

Buhari Inaugurates INEC Chairman, Commissioners

Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu and five national commissioners on November 9, Monday.

The president has tasked the new helmsmen of the commission to make the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country their priority, emphasizing that they can’t afford to fail Nigerians in future polls.
The national commissioners include Amina Zakari, Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, Prof. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine, Muhammed Mustafa Lecky and Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo.

President Buhari stated that it’s not enough for election tribunals to just cancel or order fresh elections.
Nigerian leader said: “Another area of concern is the justice administration of the election tribunals. It is long overdue that our justice system addresses these shortcomings. It is not just enough for an election to be cancelled and a new one ordered.

 “It would be much better if all whose actions or inactions led to the cancellation of such election to be investigated and if culpable prosecuted whether they are individuals as candidates or party agents, Institutions such as political party, electoral body, or public officers as electoral staff or security agents.
 “Similarly, perpetrators of electoral violence and thuggery should not be spared. Unless our system stops covering up all forms of electoral malpractices we can hardly get it right. No system endures with impunity.”

President Buhari will swear in the 36 ministers-designate and administer oaths of office on them on Novemver 11.
The president will also same day officially inaugurate a new Federal Executive Council.

Why PDP Senator Blasted Former Akwa Ibom Governor

Senator Anietie Okon, a former publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, has lambasted Obong Victor Attah, a two-term erstwhile governor of Akwa Ibom state, over some comments saying that indulging in infantile flippancy erodes the former governor’s claim of statesmanship and cast hims in the mould of a political jobber.

Obong Attah

According to a This Day report, Senator Okon made the criticism during in a press briefing on Thursday, November 5, over a recent outburst and comment the former Akwa Ibom governor made on his successor, Godswill Akpabio, the current governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, and the verdict of the governorship election petition tribunal.
Speaking in Uyo, Okon described as unfortunate the statements credited to Attah in which he allegedly described Akpabio, who is also a senator, as an imperial majesty who arrogated power to himself to determine the faith of the state.
Okon said: “In his statement, Attah painted the picture of his successor parading himself while in office as an imperial majesty who not only demanded subservience from the people but arrogated to himself the right to determine what the people needed, including his successor in office.”
The former PDP scribe said that although Attah’s indiscriminate comments on matters concerning the state were becoming too familiar to be bothered about any longer, his comment on the recent decision of the governorship election tribunal is to say the least unbecoming of a man of his standing.
He said: “At a press conference, although he gave the impression that he was not of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he gleefully proclaimed that ‘a Daniel had come to judgment.’
“He gave the impression that the incumbent governor has been sacked and there was another governorship election in the offing where the people will have an unfettered opportunity to elect a governor of their choice.
“In trying to campaign for his new-found friends, Attah made very petty insinuations unbecoming of a man of his status; trying to rubbish the image of the incumbent governor and portraying him as a stooge who was handpicked.
“What he failed to appreciate is that indulging in infantile flippancy erodes his claim of statesmanship and cast him in the mould of a political jobber.
“It must be pointed out here that even if the tribunal’s position is sustained and elections are conducted in the 18 council areas, Emmanuel is in pole position to win convincingly.”
He said that Obong Attah claims that he was retiring from partisan politics and assuming the role of a statesman but that it was long overdue.
Okon noted that having to do so now means that he has thoroughly frittered away his good will through pedestrian grandstanding which makes it belated.
Senator Okon said: “Given his disposition of jumping into every fray no matter how demeaning, the former governor would have done himself a great favour if he had taken that decision long ago.
“It is common saying that ‘an elder remain unperturbed in the house while the she-goat suffers the pangs of child-birth at the tether’; but our elder here is using his status to seek peace and unity in the state, he is rather fanning the embers of rancor and disunity among the people.
“Because of his avowed hatred for Akpabio, Attah would not mind setting the entire state ablaze. The adage that ‘you do not follow the length of the snake to set fire to the bush’ does not make sense to him,” Okon stressed.
The senator who is also a member of the Akwa-Ibom state Elders Forum stressed: “One would have thought that if indeed Obong Attah had made up his mind to quit partisan politics and become a statesman when he hits 77 years in the next three weeks, he would have used that press conference to make conciliatory statements that would attract some goodwill for him.
“But as is usual with him, he again threw away that golden opportunity and engaged in his usual diatribe. One may now be forced to throw back his own question to him: “What does Obong Victor Attah really want?”
Obong Attah had last week announced his retirement from active politics also using the medium to attack the PDP, a party on whose platform he ruled as governor for eight years.

Akwa Ibom Gov Rejects Poor Rating Report

The poor rating of Governor Udom Emmanuel by a Lagos-based group, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) to be among the lowly performed governors in October 2015 has been dismissed as false and misleading by the state government.

Governor Udom Emmanuel

According to the state commissioner of information, Aniekan Umanah,  the comparative analysis of governors’ performance in Nigeria was mere fabrication that was intended to insult the sensibilities of Akwa Ibom people,  who have seen and benefited from  good government that the Governor Emmanuel has brought to bear in the state, Vanguard reports.
Umanah added that Emmanuel is among the best performing governors in the country and there are evidences to back up this claim which is contrary with CIAPS report.
He noted that the report was meant to discredit and target governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, despite the Election Petitions Tribunal ordering a re-run governorship election in 18 out of the 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom, the All Progressive Congress (APC) had decided to head to the Appeal court to seek redress.
Umana Okon Umana, the APC governorship candidate in the April 11 election had demanded that the April 11 election should be totally annulled.

What Buhari Told Incoming Ministers

Muhammadu Buhari has addressed his ministers-designate while opening two-days retreat in Abuja, today, November 5.

President Muhammadu Buhari speaking while declaring open a two-day ministerial retreat at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The retreat held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock villa and had the theme “Delivering Change: From precepts to practice”.
President Buhari touched several key issues in his speech.
On how his administration will be judged
Buhari said the achievements of his government would be counted according to the number of Nigerians that were moved out of poverty.
The president said the economic focus of his government would ensure inclusive growth.
“All government officials should count themselves privileged to have been chosen among millions of their compatriots at this time to be the instruments that will deliver the change the ruling party promised,” he stated.
The direction and priorities of the government
While defining the work of renovation as immediate and hige, Buhari described Nigerians’ expectations as high.
The leader of the nation added that officials’ resolve to succeed and change the fortunes of Nigeria must be the same to the challenge.
Buhari said he was persuaded that in accepting his invitation to work for the nation, the incoming ministers were also equally determined to take part in what he defined as a patriotic undertaking.
On Boko Haram
He said: “My election as President of this country was hinged on my promise to tackle corruption, insecurity and revive the economy.
“We have already taken deliberate measures to plug leakages of government revenue and resources. You all know the steps we have taken to tackle Boko Haram. We have degraded them and in desperation, they are resorting to attacks on soft targets, killing innocent people.”
On economic focus
“Diversification of the economy away from oil will be a major focus of this government. We will intervene in mining and agriculture and upgrade the country’s physical and social infrastructure, which will broaden our revenue base and significantly improve the level of employment, especially among the youth.
 “Our economic focus will be policies that will ensure inclusive growth and we will count our achievements based on the number of Nigerians we move out of poverty.
Senate president Bukola Saraki had on November 3 submitted the list of confirmed ministers to President Buhari.
After receiving the document, Nigerian president gave the indication that some of the new ministers would have to operate without portfolio.

Golden Eaglets Spank Mali To Retain U-17 World Cup

Nigeria became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in Vina Del Mar, with Victor Osimhen scoring his record-breaking tenth goal of Chile 2015.
Read the full match report below;
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will battle Mali in the final of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Eaglets have never lost to an African nation in the tournament. 

Two teams from the same confederation will face each other in the final the tournament for the first time in 22 years and ten editions of the tournament. Ghana and Nigeria met in the final, back in 1993.
Sunday’s game will mark the first time a Malian side has reached the final of any FIFA tournament. After the country’s third-place finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand a few months ago, coach Baye Ba’s squad have gone one step further in Chile.

Kelechi Nwakali and Abdoul Dante, the captains of Nigeria and Mali

Nigeria’s head-to-head record between the two nations’ senior sides is four wins, three draws and just one defeat. In youth football, Nigeria have lost once to Mali. In the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999, the Golden Eaglets were defeated in the quarter-finals 3-1.
The referee for the match is England’s Micheal Oliver.
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is one to watch ahead of this final. The striker has nine goals in the tournament and could make it ten if he scores against Mali.

Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring

Osimhen has matched the exploits of Coulibaly and Sinama-Pongolle in scoring nine goals in the tournament, but could go one better if he strikes tonight.
Another Eaglet to watch is Kelechi Nwakali who has played like a true midfield general. The youngster has three goals and three assists to his name.
Striker Funsho Bamgboye is back from suspension and could replace Orji Okonkwo in the side.

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FT: Nigeria are champions of the world. Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye scored within three minutes of each other to give NIgeria her record 5th U-17 world cup.
Oshimen scored his record 1oth goal of the tournament while Funsho Bamgboye scored his first goal of the mundial.
90′ three minutes of added time
87′ Mali try a shot on goal, but it is off-target...in this closing stages Mali have look more dangerous
82′ Bamgboye is fouled and the attacker stays down as he was kick on the ankle
80′ SUB: Chukwueze comes off, Orji Okonkwo comes on
78′ Offside against Funsho Bamgboye
76′ SAVE BY UDOH!!! The Golden Eaglets goalie does well to deny Hiadara a goal buy diving low to block the striker’s shot
75′ MAMADY (in) comes off the bench to replace KOITA (out) (Mali)
74′ Anumudu’s cross cum shot from the right is well held by the Mali goalie
72′ Enogela concedes a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Mali.
70′ SORY I. (in) comes off the bench to replace MAIGA (out) (Mali)
70′ Bamgboye shoots but the Mali goalie handles easily
69′ Mali looking tired and mentally drained with those two quick goals by Nigeria
62′ HAIDARA MO. (in) comes off the bench to replace DIAKITE (out) (Mali)
59′ GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Funsho Bamgboye scores his first goal of the tournament. Nigeria 2 – 0 Mali. Osimhen capitalizes on a mistake by the Mali goalie and feeds Bamgboye who strikes at the near post

56′ GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Osimhen scores. Nigeria 1 – 0 Mali. Osimhen is now the record scorer in this tournament with 10 goals. No player has managed more in the history of the tournament
54′  WOODWORK!!! Amunudu tries a cracker from close to 25 yards out…the woodwork come to the Malian rescue
53′ SHOT!!! Osimhen half volleys a stray ball from outside the box but the keeper punches out for a corner
51′ WEAK SHOT!!! Chukwueze does well to rob a defender off the ball and advances towards the goalie but his shot is too weak
50′ Mali try and attacking move but Zakari is aware of the danger and clears
49′ SAVE!!! Chukwueze plays in Osimhen but the goalie is quickly out of his line to pick up
47′ Nigeria earns a corner and all Malians are in the box to defend…corner cleared and a foul is later committed…freekick Mali
46′ Second half kicks off
45+ HT – The referee does not give extra time and blows for half time
44′ Nwakali does well to stop Hiadara’s attack
41′ Osimhen volleys!!!! The competition’s top scorer is found by Bamgboye and he volleys at goal. The Mali goalie has to make a world class save to palm away the attempt
39′ Ikwu does well to rob Koita off the ball
37′ Yellow card for Nigeria’s David Enoghela
35′ Osimhen does well to rob a defender off the ball…the striker feeds Bamgboye but his shot is double defelcted out for a corner. Nwakali takes it but Mali clears
35′ Nigeria have been second best so far in this game with the Malians literally camping in the Eaglets half
34′ Traore tries a shot from out wide but its just over
32′ OVERHEAD KICK!!! Hiadara tries an overhead kick from the edge of the box but Udoh watches it go wide of the mark
30′ SAVE!!! Akpan Udoh makes a world class save for the Eaglets to push over Traore’s header from six yards out
28′ The game has been entertaining so far. No clear cut chances yet but both teams have threatened with good pace on the attack
26′ Nigeria commit a foul as Mali attack
24′ DEFENSIVE CLEARANCE!!! Osimhen does well to skin a defender on the right and crosses but his pass cannot find Chukwwueze as the Mali defens clears for a corner. The subsequent corner is headed away
22′ SAVE!!! Mali awarded a corner, its swung it but cleared easily. The ball drops to Fofana’s feet but the cross into the box is met by Udoh
20′ SHOT!!! Nwakali takes a shot but its off target

18′ Mali awarded a free kick close to the box after Enogela fouls a striker
16′ Nigeria having more of the possession now…Lazarus mishits a cross and it rolls out for a goal kick
14′ Anumudu takes a long throw and Chato heads out for Mali…Nwakali takes the corner but the corner is cleared
12′ Bamgboye is fouled by a Malian…Nigeria try to settle as the opponents are having more of the ball at this moment
10′ Zakari’s long clearance finds Osimhen offside
9′ Dante bullies Osimhen off the ball during a counter and the Malian counter but the ball to Fofana is too far…Nigeria’s defence clears

6′ CHANCE!!! Eaglets goalie Udoh comes out to clear a ball but Hiadara is there and the ball ricochets off him…Nigeria survive
5′ Osimhen tries to dribble two defenders but he is rebuffed
5′ left-back Lazarus is forced into conceding a throw in
3′ Ebere misses the penalty, his rebound hits the bar..Mali try to clear ad force Nigeria into committing a foul
2′ PENALTY!!! A Malian defender is penalised for handling a ball in the box…Ebere to take
1′ kick off…Nigeria kick off