Awoniyi stars as Nigerian ‘Dream Team ‘ win

JOHANNESBURG: Taiwo Awoniyi was the two-goal hero as Nigeria edged Zambia 2-1 at the weekend to reach the 2015 All-Africa Games football tournament.
Part of the African youth championship-winning team last month, Awoniyi opened and closed the scoring for the ‘Dream Team ‘ at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Friday Samu levelled 17 minutes from time for Zambia, who entered the second leg of the final round qualifier hopeful of success having forced a 0-0 draw in Abuja.
Defending champions Ghana, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Sudan and Senegal also secured places at the September 4-19 tournament while hosts Congo Brazzaville qualify automatically.
Popularly known as the ‘African Olympics ‘ the All-Africa Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event spanning two weeks with the under-23 football tournament always a major attraction.
The elimination of record four-time champions Cameroon by Zimbabwe after a 1-1 draw in Yaounde was a major upset.