FIFA Beach Soccer World
Cup
Nigeria overpower France
By Sun News Publishing
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
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Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Nigeria overcame the driving rain to beat France on 6–5
penalties in Group D in the last match of the day at the FIFA
Beach Soccer World Cup 2007.
Both teams took a while to get into the game. France's Laurent
Castro had two chances early on, but the first was saved by
Isa Abdullahi and the second, a lob, ended up an inch or two
over the bar.
It took a mistake by Jean-Marie Aubry for the first goal to
come, the French keeper dropping a corner and leaving Uga
Okpara with the simplest of tasks.
Castro and Aubry made up for their poor starts in the second
period – the former equalising with his first goal of
the tournament, the latter pulling off a number of stunning
saves. Okpara was on fine form as well, however, and scored
his second of the match via a deflection off Jean Saidou to
give the Nigerians the lead once again.
Jeremy Basquaise had two chances to get Les Bleus back on
level terms at the start of the third period but Isa kept
out the French captain's penalty and subsequent free kick.
Suleman Usman looked to have sealed victory for the Beach
Eagles with a third goal but Eric Cantona's men were not beaten
yet.
In the final minute, Stephane Francois and captain Basquaise
scored to snatch a lifeline for the French. The extra three
minutes were not enough to find a winner, however, and so
it went to a penalty shoot-out, with Didier Samoun missing
his crucial spot-kick.
The Nigerians now have their quarter-final spot sewn up, while
France will face Argentina in their final group match where
it will be a case of winner takes all.
Senegal also showed that their opening win was no flash in
the pan when they surged to a 5–2 defeat of Uruguay
to advance to the knockout phase of the FIFA Beach Soccer
World Cup’ Rio de Janeiro 2007.’ Last year's losing
finalists will now have to win their final game and pray for
the Senegalese to do them a favour against Italy if they are
to stay in the tournament.
My men played a beautiful game today. Uruguay are a very tough
side, both technically and tactically, but we managed to achieve
this victory thanks to the fighting spirit the team showed.
This is this first time we have taken part and I couldn't
be happier at the fact that we have already qualified for
the quarter-finals,” Diop Amadou, Senegal coach,”
said.
A 4–2 win over United Arab Emirates kept Argentina firmly
in the hunt for a ticket to the last eight of the FIFA Beach
Soccer World Cup.
The defeat leaves the AFC outfit with virtually no chance
of progressing.
Although a win was essential for both teams, it was Argentina
who pressed harder from the kick-off and it came as no surprise
when Federico Hilaire headed them into the net.
It was very tight at the start but we stayed calm. Unlike
the game with Nigeria, we didn't get anxious about scoring
early goals this time. I'm very happy with how the team performed
and I hope we can play just as well against France,”
Francisco Petrasso, Argentina coach said.
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