Golden Eaglets Edge Close to World Cup 2nd Round

By Adeleke Afolayan
Abuja, October 27 - The national U17 team of Nigeria this evening at the National Stadium in Abuja beat hard fighting Honduras by a lone goal to edge closer to the knock out rounds of the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup.

Playing in front of an average capacity crowd, the Golden Eaglets were much improved compared to the first half against Germany on Saturday but however failed to find the back of the net with the Hondurans themselves keeping Nigeria's goalie David Paul busy.

Nigeria continued to dominate the encounter with Okoro Stanley's penalty appeals on the hour mark waved aside by the referee who booked Okoro for simulation in the Honduran penalty area.

Okoro should then have scored barely a minute later but somehow saw his header, unmarked from eight yards out, go just over the Central Americans\' goal and the gravity of his glaring miss was evident in his countenance afterwards.

The midfielder\'s blushes would however be spared two minutes later as striker Abdul Ajagun controlled a cross before curling in his effort to the top corner beyond the opposing keeper to give the hosts and defending champions a much deserved win and all but qualify from the group stages.

With four points from two games, Nigeria can seal her place in the next round by avoiding defeat in the final Group A match against Argentina on Friday in Bauchi while Germany face Honduras simultaneously in Abuja.