Both male and female football teams crash out in All African Games football semi finals

NIGERIA'S male and female teams have both been knocked out of the All African Games football event in the semi-finals after suffering respective loses to Burkina Faso and Cameroon yesterday.

 

Known as the Dream Team IV, the male team suffered a 1-3 loss to Burkina Faso, denying them a place in the final. In the match, the team got off to a poor start, conceding an early from Burkinabe striker Sydney Sylla in the 11th minute and from then onwards, the Eagles struggled to get back into the match conceding second half goals came from Omar Kabore in the 73rd minute and Arba Dicko in the 78th minute.

 

Nigeria's only consolation goal came in the 75th minute through Daniel Etor but it was not enough to remedy the situation. Burkina Faso emerged as Nigeria's semi-final opponents after a forced lucky dip on Monday saw them becoming the runners up in Group A ahead of Sudan.

 

Both Burkina Faso and Sudan had scored and conceded two goals in their first two Group A outings before playing a goalless draw in their final tie on Sunday, to finish  level on four points apiece, two adrift of hosts and group leaders Congo. Nigeria will now play Congo in a third place encounter billed for September 17, while Senegal will face Burkina Faso in the final on September 18.

 

In the ladies event, the Falcons lost 1-2 to Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses. Cameroon's goals came from Therese Abena in the 10th minute followed by one from Madeleine Ngo four minutes later while the only consolation goal for the Falcons came through Onome Ebi in the 48th minute.