Nigeria U20 1–1 (Pen: 4–1) Egypt U20 Player Ratings: Nigeria Beat Egypt in Penalties to Claim the Third Spot

The 30 June Stadium hosted the fixture between Nigeria and Egypt. The match was end-to-end action. Omar Osama Hassan Hassan and Bidemi Olalekan Amole was in the score sheet. A 1-1 score saw the match go on to penalties. The penalty shootout was won by Nigeria. Read more to find Nigeria U20 vs Egypt U20 Player Ratings.

The match was kicked off with an early goal from the in-form Egypt U20 team. Nigeria's lack of organization led up to an early goal when Omar Osama Hassan Hassan converted the chance created by Hemida. It was 0-1 at the 3rd minute, and pressure started to mount on Nigeria. After the first goal, Nigeria seemed to rally up their courage and started moving the ball with more intent.

By the 20th minute mark, it was all Nigeria in possession of the ball, with a few counterattacks seen from the Egyptian side.

By the 30th minute, we saw multiple attempts from each side, with Nigeria having the upper hand both in terms of possession and overall domination in the game, even after being 0-1 down. Mohab Samy Mohamed Talaat Abdalla was the first booking of the match after he picked up a yellow in the 35th minute.

Ahmed Abd El Fattah Bassiuny Sharaf had to be taken off due to an injury. Nigeria also introduced a couple of fresh pairs of legs before the first half whistle.

After the normal 45 minutes, 5 additional minutes were added. But the score stood the same after the half-time whistle.

After the second half started, Nigeria finally got their equalizer as Bidemi Olalekan Amole scored a thumping goal from the box. The goal pretty much boosted the confidence of the Nigerian side as they looked more lethal with the ball going forward. However, the Egyptian defense was improved over time, and they seemed to deal with the threats well.

Oliseh had the golden chance at the 67th minute to make it 2-1, but the forward missed his chance. He missed another great chance minutes later.

Even though Egypt looked eager to counterattack with the ball, Nigeria's high line caught Egyptian forwards in an offside position numerous times.

We were seeing the game slowly being pushed to the penalties as attacks from both sides dialed down. After the normal 90 minutes, 5 additional minutes were added. A series of Egyptian efforts rattling the crossbar could not find the goal, and the score stood 1-1.

After the full-time whistle, the match went on to penalties. The penalty shootout was won by Nigeria with a 4-1 score.

Here are Nigeria U20 vs Egypt U20 Player Ratings.

Nigeria U20 Player Ratings vs Egypt U20

GK- Ajia Soliu Yakub- 5/10

Yakub was displeased with his defenders and himself when his team conceded the first goal. However, he rallied his team after the goal, and it worked well for his team. Saved his team on multiple occasions after the first goal.

LB- Auwal Ibrahim- 4.5/10

Auwal Ibrahim had a great game if you look past the first goal. He was great when his team went forward to attack. However, the fullback was not effective when it came to defending duties today.

CB- Emmanuel Chukwu- 5/10

Dusted off the first goal mistake rather well. Along with Daniel Bameyi, Emmanuel Chukwu had a solid presence in the defence. He cut off a lot of counterattacks from Egypt in the first half.

CB- Daniel Bameyi- 5/10

Just like Chukwu, Daniel Bameyi had a solid command in the defense today, especially in the first half when they were holding a high line with defense. But again, this is when you overlook the first goal, where there were practically no defensive bodies in the box.

RB- Adamu Bajibir Maigari- 5.5/10

Maigari was the better defender among the back four today. He was exceptional both going forward and with his defensive duties. Tracked back the balls well and won most of his aerial and ground duels.

CM- Sulaiman Olalekan Alabi- 5.5/10

Even after conceding a goal early, Nigeria seemed to put the game into the next gear. They had more possession of the ball and held a high line with the intent to score the equalizer as quickly as possible. Alabi was the soul of the 3-man midfield today.

CM- Israel Issac Ayuma- 5/10

Just like Alabi, Israel Issac Ayuma had a great impact in the midfield today. It is props to the 3 men in the midfield that Egypt could not capitalize on the advantage after their first goal.

CM- Armiyau Yushau Armiyau- 5.5/10

Armiyau along with Israle and Alabi, made sure to win the midfield battle even though they were at a goal disadvantage. The Nigerian midfield seemed to be the mature line of three in today's game.

ST- Ezekiel Anthoony Kpangu- 6.5/10

Ezekiel had a commanding presence between the two center backs of Egypt. He was the main target for the Nigerian wingers as they tried to find him from the wings on every occasion.

RW- Clinton Degol Jephta- 6/10

Clinton was arguably one of the most active players in the squad today. He won most of his battles against the Egyptian fullbacks, and he looked threatening with the ball, whether he was cutting in or making crosses in the center.

LW- Precious Benjamin- 6.5/10

Benjamin's runs with and without the ball were astonishing, given how old he is. He showed maturity while leading the team from the front. It was almost as if he were at the right place at the right time on every occasion.

Sub- Divine Uchechukwu Oliseh- 4/10

Divine Uchechukwu Oliseh came on in the first half along with Amole to change the course of the game. Oliseh had the golden chance at the 67th minute to make it 2-1, but the forward missed his chance. He missed another great chance minutes later.

Sub- Bidemi Olalekan Amole- 6/10

As the team was trailing 0-1, the manager introduced Bidemi Olalekan Amole in the 44th minute. to up the tempo and get a goal back. Scored the equalizer and turned out to be the super sub.

Sub- Tahir Maigana- 6/10

Tahir was introduced to the game in the 71st minute as his team was searching for the 2nd goal.

Sub- Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi- 6/10

Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi came along Tahir Maigana in the 71st minute to change the fortunes for his team.

Sub- Rufal Abubakar- 4/10

Rufal Abubakar came onto the match before full-time whistle for the penalty shootout.

Manager- Aliyu Zubairu- 5.5/10

Aliyu Zubairu made all the right substitutions to change the course of the game. Stats-wise, his team was better today.

Egypt U20 Player Ratings vs Nigeria U20

GK- Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Wahem- 5.5/10

Ahmed Wahem would be happy today with his defense, especially in the first half when their team is getting rained on by Nigerian attacks from both flanks. The goalkeeper made a lot of saves in the game today. However, he could not get a touch of the ball when his team conceded the first goal.

LB- Mohamed Gamal Ibrahim Abdelfattah Saadoun- 4.5/10

Compared to the whole team's performance, Abdelfattah Saadoun had an average game today. He seemed way out of his game when it came to defensive work today.

CB- Ahmed Khaled Gomaa Soliman- 5/10

Soliman had to keep a cool head in the game today due to intense pressure and attacks from the Nigerian team. He had a solid command of his defense line in the first half and overall had a decent game.

CB- Moahmed Raagat Abdelazeem Mohamed- 5.5/10

It is not easy to always be in the right place to make that important challenge. However, Abdelazeem Mohamed made it look like that throughout the game, saving his team from conceding multiple times.

RB- Mohanad Mohamed Ahmed Aly- 5/10

Along with Saadoun, Ahmed Aly had an average game today as well as he failed most of the battles against the Nigerian winger. However, his ball recoveries made up for his mistakes.

CM- Mahmoud Labib Rated Labib Hemida- 5.5/10

Hemida bagged the assist for the first goal. Among all the midfielders, he seemed to have a better game both in terms of composure on the ball and dictating the tempo in the middle of the pitch.

CM- Abdullah Fouad Abdullah Boustenji-5/10

Just like Bassiuny Sharaf, Abdullah Boustenji had a decent game too. He was seen more on defensive duties after their team scored the first goal as the Egyptian defense needed an extra man to deal with Nigerian attacks.

CM- Ahmed Abd El Fattah Bassiuny Sharaf- 5/10

Compared to Nigeria, Egypt's midfield was not up to the mark today. However, Sharaf, along with the other midfielders, made sure to launch the right passes every time their team was counterattacking. He was subbed off in the 41st minute due to injury.

ST- Mohab Samy Mohamed Talaat Abdalla- 6/10

For someone so young, Talaat Abdalla's pitch awareness is a joy to watch. The striker is the important piece of the 3-man puzzle up front for Egypt. The Nigerian defenders stayed close to the forward the whole time. He picked up a yellow card in 35th minute

RW- Omar Osama Hassan Hassan- 7/10

Omar's finish gave his team the much-needed advantage against a win-hungry side. He seemed even more dangerous after the goal, any time he had the ball on his feet.

LW- Mohamed Atef Abdelsalam Shadid Ali- 6/10

Between the wingers, Shadid Ali saw most of the balls today. He was quick with his feet, especially dribbling. During counterattacks from Egypt, he looked especially threatening.

Sub- Amr Khaled Ali Mohamed El Amin-4/10

Amr Khaled Ali Mohamed El Amin came in pretty early, as Sharaf had to be subbed off because he picked up an injury.

Sub- Omar Khedr- 4/10

Omar Khedr, Aston Villa youth prospect, was subbed in in the 60th minute as his team was searching for the lead again.

Sub- Mohamed Ei Sayed Mohamed Abdelaal Ahmed- 4/10

Mohamed Ei Sayed Mohamed Abdelaal Ahmed came onto the match in the later minutes to make sure the match went on to penalties.

Sub- Mohamed Haitham Mohamed Abdelazim Mohamed-4/10

Mohamed Haitham Mohamed Abdelazim Mohamed came onto the match in the 87th minute along with Mohamed Ei Sayed Mohamed Abdelaal Ahmed.

Manager- Osama Nabieh- 4/10

Osama Nabieh intended to push the match on to penalties. His tactics in the normal 90 minutes were outsmarted by the opponent.

Sportsdunia Player of the Match is Omar Osama Hassan Hassan.