Joyce Banda Foundation’s (JBF) Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) Africa Championship juicy dream was shattered today here in Lagos when they were booted out by defending champions Niger.
Niger showed charecterisic grit to come from a goal down to emerge 3-1 victors at National Institute for Sports.
JBF took an early lead in the 10th minute through a penalty that was awarded after their marksman Precious Msosa was fouled by Niger
goalkeeper.
However, JBF appeared completely out of sorts and were repeatedly fragile in defence and midfield.
They were swept aside with contemptous ease by the defending champions who equalised in the 15th minute through Dourcima Hamidou and hardly had the dust settled, Hamidou put Niger ahead a minute later following a move of utter beauty.
JBF’s hopes of an equaliser vanished into thin air when Mahirou Hamidou scored the third towards the very end.
The architect of Niger’s orchestra was their captain Adebayore Adje who teased and tormented JBF’s rearguard from start to finish.
JBF’S coach Robert Munthali admitted that Niger were a better side.
“We just couldn’t tick today, maybe because fatigue caught up with the boys because we had another tough game againt Nigeria on Thursday.
