Nigeria's Golden Eaglets reached the semifinals of the 2013 Fifa Under-17 World Cup on Saturday after defeating Uruguay 2-0 inside the Sharjah Stadium in the UAE.
It is the seventh time that the West Africans will reach the semis of the Under-17 World Cup.
It was Imperial Academy striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, who was the hero of the day as he struck a goal in each of the half to end their ambition of Uruguay.
The South Americans were full of activities in the opening six minutes with Franco Acosta and Kevin Mendez in the thick of things.
Dele Alampasu was called into action in the 13th minute but five minutes later the Nigerians stunned the Uruguayans against the run of play.
Golden Eaglets playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho, picked out Awoniyi with a superb pass and the striker turned away the assist with his first touch which left Uruguay goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo rooted to the spot.
The Nigerians from then began to assert themselves with short passes through the middle and down the flanks as the first half ended one-nil courtesy Awoniyi's strike.
In the restart Uruguay head coach, Fabian Coito, sent on Gonzalo Latorre in place of Leandro Otormin but it was the Nigerians who went close to scoring through Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya and Abdullahi Alfa.
Iheanacho also got close to scoring when his shot was bravely blocked just eight minute past the hour mark.
But Iheanacho turned provider again for Awoniyi to score his second of the day following a sweeping move started by the Nigerian playmaker.
Iheanacho picked the ball in the midfield before a one-two exchange with Chidiebere Nwakali freed him in the Uruguayan box to lay the ball in the path of Awoniyi who made no error in hitting it past Cardozo in the 79th minute.
Late in the game, Acosta was just inches of halving Nigeria's lead but Alampasu spread out his body well to block off the effort of the Uruguayan at the near post.
The Nigerian under-17s will now face Sweden in the semifinals in Dubai on Tuesday. Both teams had earlier met in the group in a game that produced six goals that ended in a 3-3 draw.
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