Defending champions Nigeria reached the final of the ongoing WAFU B U-20 Championship at the Municipal Stadium on Sunday, after coming from behind to beat Niger Republic 3-1 in Lome, Togo, Afrosport reports.
Niger took an early lead in the 11th minute, but Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta finished with a decent strike from outside the box to put the Flying Eagles on level terms in the 35th minute, after an eye-catching interchange of passes between Kparobo Arierhi, Abba Maigari and Nasiru Salihu.
Jephta was the centre of attraction again, as 14 minutes after the restart, the forward put Nigeria ahead for the first time in the match, with goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt pulling off excellent saves to deny Niger an equaliser.
The Flying Eagles netted the third goal in added time through Ibrahim Alonge, who ensured maximum points were recorded.
Nigeria thump Niger Republic 3-1, qualify for 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations pic.twitter.com/koLO2ioJxR
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) October 27, 2024
The victory also sealed the team’s ticket to the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in South Africa next year.
The Flying Eagles will now aim to retain the title they won last time out, when they face Ghana in the final on Wednesday, October 30, after the Black Satellites defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in their own semifinal clash.
