Nigeria’s Future Eagles produced a ruthless attacking display to thrash New Caledonia 7-0 at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday, with captain Timothy Ijachi scoring a hat-trick in a one-sided encounter.
Wisdom Oche opened the scoring inside the first minute before Ijachi struck twice in quick succession to put Nigeria three goals ahead. Abdulsalam Muhammad added a brace, while Ijachi completed his hat-trick and Mayowa Salu rounded off the scoring as the Nigerian youngsters secured their place in the Tier C Round of 16.
The Future Eagles wasted no time taking control of the contest, with Oche finding the net just 60 seconds after kickoff to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
The early breakthrough gave the Nigerian side an immediate advantage, and they continued to press their opponents as they searched for another goal.
Their pressure paid off in the 12th minute when Ijachi scored Nigeria’s second goal, extending the lead to 2-0.
The captain was not finished, however, as he struck again in the 16th minute to complete his brace and put the Future Eagles 3-0 ahead. His second goal arrived just four minutes after his first, leaving New Caledonia facing an increasingly difficult task.
Nigeria maintained their attacking momentum and extended their advantage in the 21st minute through Muhammad, who scored the fourth goal to make it 4-0.
Ijachi then returned to the scoresheet in the 35th minute, completing his hat-trick and taking Nigeria’s tally to five goals without reply.
Muhammad added his second goal of the match in the 39th minute, increasing the score to 6-0 as the Nigerian youngsters continued to dominate the contest.
Salu completed the scoring in the 40th minute, sealing a comprehensive 7-0 victory for the Future Eagles.
The result was Nigeria’s biggest win of the tournament and extended their unbeaten run to six matches. It also marked their first clean sheet of the competition.
Ijachi’s hat-trick was the outstanding individual achievement of the encounter, while Muhammad’s brace and goals from Oche and Salu ensured that four Nigerian players contributed to the emphatic scoreline.
The victory sent Nigeria into the Tier C Round of 16, where they were scheduled to face the Republic of Benin after the knockout draw.
For the Future Eagles, the performance provided a convincing result as they continued their campaign in Azerbaijan, with the seven-goal margin underlining their attacking effectiveness against New Caledonia.
