By Felix Frimpong
The monster in Victorien Adebayor exploded on Sunday, September 24 as he created and scored one goal in Niger’s 2-1 victory over Benin in the third place match of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
Niger stepped on the accelerator pedal early in the game, but it was Charbel Gomez [Benin] who came close to scoring in the 12th minute with a long drive but Niger’s makeshift goalkeeper Losseini saved the occasion for the Menas.
The Squirrels also had to count on their goalie – Glodjinon to save Boubacar Magid’s header in the 23rd minute.
Victorien Adebayor tore the defensive line of Benin apart in the 30th minute as he opened from the right to set up Idrissa Halidou to give Niger the lead from a close range.
Victorien Adebayor nearly signed his goal account in the 43rd minute but his thunderbolt from 15-yards scratched off the bar leaving the half time score line at 1-0 in favour of Niger.
Benin came into the second half strongly with Charbel Gomez coming close on two different occasions [55th and the 66th minute] but Losseini denied the most exciting left footed Beninese.
Judging by the performance of Niger, the Menas deserved to be rewarded for the sterling performance they exhibited at the WAFU Cup of Nations and winning the bronze medal is worth it.
Below are the squad sheets of the teams:
Benin: Glodjinon, Fassinou, Yarou, Salmon, Bah-Yere, Osseni, Hougbedji, Mama, Ogoulola, Gomez, Elegbede.
Niger: Losseini, Lebene, Souley, Adamou, Khaido, Hainikoye, Dela, Boubacar, Halidou, Hinsa, Victorien.
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