igeria outclassed Australia 2-0 in the final of the inaugural International Cup football tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium here in Cheras here Sunday night.

Tarek Elrich from Australia, left, fight for the ball with Sarki Emmanuel from Nigeria during the Intercontinental U-23 soccer championship final match in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, May 25, 2008. Nigeria won 2-0. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

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The Africans took the lead as early as the 7th minute when Bernard Okorowanta's attempt from outside the box sailed past Australia's goakeeper Tando Velaphi into the net.

Australia upped the ante after that but found Nigeria more than their match in all departments. They were further punished in the 86th minute when Emmanuel Sarki's free kick also from outside the box put the match beyond any doubt.

"It was a tough game for us because the Australians are physically much bigger but the boys managed to pull it off," Nigerian head coach Samson Siasia told reporters at the post-match press conference.

Siasia also said the win was morale booster for the team which will be seeing action at the Beijing Olympics in August.

The tournament, which began on May 15, involved under 23 players from eight teams from four continents - Asia, Europe, America and Africa.