SANTIAGO: Nigeria extended their domination of world youth football when the latest version of the Golden Eaglets won the World Under-17 Cup for a fifth time by defeating Mali 2-0 in the final in Santiago.

The winning margin could have been greater: Nigeria’s Osinachi Ebere missed a penalty in only the third minute.

Finally, after Udochukwu Anumudu but the posts, Victor Osimhen put them ahead in the 56th minute. Three minutes later, Funsho Bamgboye scored the second.

Osimhen’s goal took his haul to 10, making him the comeptition’s all-time highest scorer, above France’s Sinama Pongolle (2001) and Mali’s Souleymane Coulibaly (2008).

In the group stage Nigeria beat United States 2-0 and hosts Chile 5-1 then progressed despite a 2-1 defeat against Croatia. Australia were thrashed 6-0 in the second round and Brazil beaten 3-0 in the quarter finals. Nigeria reached the final by defeating Mexico 4-2.

With five wins (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015), Nigeria has the highest record of triumphs in the global cadet championship, followed by Brazil with three.

#########