Captain of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Daniel Bameyi, has shed light on the inspiration behind his commanding performance that earned him the Man of the Match accolade in the tense goalless draw against Morocco at the ongoing CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt.
The Bayelsa United centre-back was a rock in defence throughout the encounter, marshaling the backline with maturity and tactical discipline far beyond his years. His leadership on the pitch proved crucial as Nigeria kept the Moroccan attack at bay in a fiercely contested Group B clash.
Bameyi’s statistics on the night were impressive. He completed 75 touches and 59 passes with an accuracy rate of 72.9%, maintaining composure under pressure and ensuring the team’s shape remained solid from start to finish. His defensive awareness and coordination played a key role in limiting Morocco’s chances, with goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt largely untested throughout the encounter — a testament to the collective effort of the backline.
Speaking after the match, Bameyi downplayed his individual plaudits and instead gave credit to the entire squad and coaching crew for the level of preparation that went into the game. “It was a good performance, and I have to give respect to the opposing team as well as my teammates,” the skipper said. “It was an intense game because both teams understood what was at stake, and we give God all the glory for how the match went.”
When quizzed on the strategy that earned him such a standout performance, Bameyi pointed to the importance of tactical planning and proper scouting of the opponent. He acknowledged the coaching staff for their diligence in analyzing Morocco’s strengths and weaknesses, which provided the team with a clear blueprint to follow.
“Kudos to the coaches, who had the chance to study the opponents and their tactics. We implemented that plan well during the match, and it worked. We thank God for that,” he said.
While the Flying Eagles may have been frustrated not to take all three points, the draw sees them remain firmly in contention for a place in the quarter-finals, with both Nigeria and Morocco sitting on four points apiece in Group B. The final round of group fixtures is set to take place on Wednesday, with Nigeria facing Kenya and Morocco taking on Tunisia, as the race for knockout qualification reaches a climax.
Reflecting on the recognition he received, Bameyi expressed gratitude for being named Man of the Match and reiterated that the accolade was as much a reflection of team spirit as individual effort. “I am very grateful, thank you very much,” he concluded with humility.
