The Golden Eaglets have qualified for the final of the 2015 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup after beating Mexico 4-2 in Concepcion, Chile on Friday.
Defending champions, Nigeria, are on the verge of making history with an eye on a record fifth world title after qualifying for a record eight final.
Victor Osimhen scored his ninth of the tournament to equal the all-time goal record with skipper, Kelechi Nwakali, Orji Okonkwo and Osinachi Ebere all scoring for the West Africans.
The Americans got their goals through Kevin Magana and a remarkable solo effort from Diego Cortes.
Mexico dominated play in the opening stages of the match, and took the lead early on. Kevin Lara beat his man on the Mexican right and delivered a teasing cross into the middle. Aguirre tried to control with his chest, but Magana took charge and fired home.
Emmanuel Amunike’s side began to grow into the game, with Nwakali restoring parity through a well taken free kick from around 25 yards.
Okwonkwo put the Eaglets in front few minutes later after drifting inside from the left before thumping his effort in off the crossbar.
After the break, Cortes then stepped up to score what must be considered one of the best goals ever scored in the Estadio Ester Roa.
He picked up the ball on the Mexican right just inside the Nigerian half and proceeded to dribble past five players, showing incredible close control before slotting calmly past Akpan Udoh.
Nigeria were undeterred by Cortes’s goal and struck back. Ebere found space on the Nigerian right just inside the Mexican penalty area after a long through ball. His right-footed effort was too strong for Romero, who got a hand to the strike but could not keep it out.
Osimhen scored his ninth goal from the spot after John Lazarus was taken down in the Mexican penalty area.
Sinama Pongolle of France in 2001 and Mali’s Souleyman Coulibally in 2008 are the other two players to have scored nine goals in a single tournament.
Nigeria face Mali in Vina Del Mar on Sunday in an all-African final, while Mexico tackle Belgium in the third place earlier same day.
Mali reached their first ever FIFA U-17 World Cup final courtesy of a resounding come-from-behind 3-1 victory against Belgium.
The Europeans had taken the lead through Dante Rigo, but Boubacar Traore’s swift response was followed by second half goals from Sidiki Maiga and Sekou Koita.
The last time two African nations met at the final of the cadre tourney was in Japan 93 when Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 to be crowned world champions for the second time.
