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00:00So it's the record seven times under 20 African champions, Nigeria, who kick us off against Morocco in this mouthwatering Group B encounter.
00:20Nigeria playing from left to right in white.
00:24Morocco in their familiar red shirts and green shorts and reds.
00:40It should be fascinated to see how this game goes, but it's going to be an early hold up because of that clash.
00:49Back teeter.
00:58Lahouani who plays it forward and surely the offside flag is going to go up here.
01:02It stayed down.
01:03Dahag striker goal and tip behind for a corner.
01:07The offside flag does indeed go up.
01:14I'm not entirely sure why it wasn't raised as soon as the player touched the ball rather than when it was turned behind for a corner.
01:22Here you can see it stayed down.
01:25Can they find their second here?
01:28Strike out goal as well and that's not too far over the crossbar.
01:35First real effort on goal from Precious Benjamin.
01:41Player fouled and that wasn't really too far over at all.
01:50He got nearly everything about that right.
01:53Just enough height to get over the wall.
01:56Just not enough dip on it.
01:58Back teeter.
02:07Decent enough turn from Lahoui.
02:11Dahag.
02:12Nice ball that.
02:13This is lovely football.
02:14Into the middle it goes.
02:15And it was just waiting.
02:17Egeek just to touch that home.
02:19But a crucial intervention at the back.
02:21From Daniel Bemeyi.
02:23Outstanding defensive play.
02:25After some scintillating Moroccan football.
02:32In it swings.
02:33And Harcourt came.
02:34And tried to get something on it.
02:36But he couldn't because it was one of his colleagues who took the action.
02:40To make sure that Morocco could not profit.
02:44Around the corner.
02:45That's better.
02:46Something to get their teeth into.
02:49Olise.
02:50Benjamin in the middle if he can find him.
02:52Megari coming in as well.
02:54And a crucial deflection.
02:55But still the danger not fully clear.
02:57Strike a goal from Ibrahim.
02:59Just cannon straight into a Moroccan.
03:02And then Egeek goes down.
03:05A few minutes ago.
03:06Which would have given the Moroccans surely.
03:08Not just their first shot on target.
03:09But possibly a goal as well.
03:10And here's Nigeria at the other end.
03:12A strike out goal.
03:14Finally forcing Ben Shaouche into a save.
03:16Precious Benjamin it was who had it.
03:18And that's what he's about.
03:21And he's had so little to work with.
03:24And he showed us there what he can do.
03:29Very much spread around.
03:32Well that's enough.
03:33The two minutes are up.
03:34And the first half has been brought to a close.
03:37It was certainly high.
03:38On Desire.
03:39There were a few moments of real quality.
03:41And the two best moves of the match from either side.
03:43Failing to deliver clear-cut chances.
03:44Because they were cut out.
03:45But Precious Benjamin went close with a free kick.
03:46For Nigeria.
03:47After 21 minutes.
03:48And in the game with very few chances.
03:49Emmanuel Chukwu had a header go over the bar.
03:50Just three minutes.
03:51Before the break at the other end.
03:52And Rocco.
03:53Get this second period started.
03:54Looking to finally find a breakthrough.
03:55Look at it.
03:56Look at that.
03:57Look at it.
03:58Give it a boy!
03:59Give it a boy!
04:00Give it a boy!
04:01Give it a bird!
04:02Give it a boy!
04:03with very few chances. Emmanuel Chukwu had a header go over the bar just three minutes
04:07before the break at the other end.
04:13Rocco get the second period started looking to find a breakthrough.
04:33One thing that can give them hope against the seven-time champions in Morocco is the fact
04:42that Emmanuel defeated the North Africans in the last ten matches at the under 20 AFCON in open play.
04:53Their last such defeat being a 4-0 loss to Egypt way back in 2003 because their qualifying record
05:02was indifferent, let's put it mildly, for quite a long time. Absent between 2007 and 2019.
05:09And to Esedek.
05:13Back out to the left-hand side.
05:17Tehwani up against Maegari. A little drop of the shoulder, faint with the foot and he gets the
05:22cross in as well. It's over everybody and that had to be turned behind because Mahama
05:26was lurking and Okoro took no chances, did exactly the right thing.
05:35Esedek with the delivery deep, good ball in as well and they were queuing up at the back post.
05:41And none could get the decisive touch that was needed to take that past Harcourt in the Nigerian goal.
05:48Still, with over an hour gone, Morocco failing to trouble the Nigerian. A little dissatisfied
05:58in their work in the final third. They went close a moment ago from a deep free kick.
06:06Lalawi trying to head it back across goal and instead it's Nigeria who can break it.
06:11Precious Benjamin in the middle, waiting to see if the ball comes in. Player down in the area.
06:17Decision time for the official and instead she does not point to the spot but
06:26keep your eyes on Arrieri, the number nine. Good ball in here and spilling around.
06:34And it was Maegana who's just come on who was the closest to that.
06:38And this time it's Baouf who's down on the floor.
06:48He looks okay but let's focus on Arrieri. He scored both goals in the Wafu B final against Ghana.
06:57Based in Norway with Lillestrom. He joined in March.
07:03He's leaving the pitch in a manner he would not wish to do.
07:09And Adnan Hamza Harubi will be waiting to come in as a shot comes in from distance from Ayuma.
07:18All eyes on the Ugandan official who blows her whistle to signify an end to a game in which neither
07:33Nigeria nor Morocco's attacks could get on top of the defences in their way.
07:38It means that Morocco and Nigeria are up to four points.
07:44Tunisia third on three but right behind them.
07:51Precious Benjamin they came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock in this hard-fought encounter.
07:58Sending a free kick whistling over the cross but midway through the first half
08:03before forcing a good save from Yanis Benchaouche in the Moroccan goal just before half-time but...
08:18To be continued...
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