Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, booked its place in the final of the WAFU Zone B regional tournament with a 2-1 win against Ivory Coast after extra time in Niamey, Niger Republic, thereby qualifying for the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Nigeria will now face Benin in the final of the regional tournament on Friday, May 20.
The Flying Eagles went ahead in the first half through Daniel Daga who was the Man of the Match in the 2-2 draw against Burkina Faso. The midfielder, who again scooped the Man of the Match award on Tuesday night, scored in the fifth minute, heading in a corner played by Ibrahim Muhammad.
However the Ivorians restored parity just before the halftime break from an exquisite free kick.
Nigeria had several scoring chances to put the game beyond the Ivorians, but their goalkeeper severally came to their rescue.
However, the game ended a goal apiece in regulation time and had to be decided either in extra time or penalties.
Ibrahim Yahaya then scored from the penalty spot in the second half of extra time to put Nigeria ahead. Though the Ivorians threatened to equalise, however, the match ended 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.
Chidi Nwoke/NFF.
