Nigeria’s Under-20 Men’s football team, the Flying Eagles have booked their spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing West Africa Football Union (WAFU), Zone B Under-20 Men’s football tournament following their 2-1 win against Ivory Coast, Afrosport reports.
The Aliyu Zubairu-led side needed an outright win to avoid an early exit going by their 1-0 defeat suffered in their Group opener against Burkina Faso.
Their opponents, Ivory Coast, had won their opener 1-0 against the Burkinabes, and needed at least a draw to qualify for the semifinals at the expense of Nigeria
After a goalless first half, the Ivorians took the lead in the second half through Christ Wawa’s 63rd minute goal, but the Flying Eagles showed grit to level the tie quickly thanks to a strike from Clinton Jephta a minute later.
The defending champions, knowing only a win was enough, showed more determination and duly took the lead courtesy of a Kparobo Arierhi strike in the 66th minute as Captain Daniel Bameyi bossed proceedings and was named Man of the Match.
FT in Lome
🇨🇮Ivory Coast 1-2 Nigeria🇳🇬
The Flying Eagles make it to the semi-final.
A come from behind win for the U20s.
Captain Daniel Bameyi is Man of the Match.#WafuBU20 #SoarFlyingEagles
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) October 24, 2024
The Eagles will square off against Niger Republic in the semi-final on Sunday in Lome, Togo.
The finalists of the WAFU Zone B Under-20 tournament will book their spot in the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
