Nigeria’s Flying Eagles displayed good character to overcome a determined Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in an explosive semi-final match to reach the final of the ongoing WAFU B U20 Championship in Niamey.
Reaching the final also means the Nigerian team have qualified for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt next year.
Productive midfielder Daniel Daga put Nigeria in front after only five minutes when he cleverly escaped the attention of the Ivorian defenders to nod in from a well-weighted pull-out.
The seven-time African champions then launched onslaught after onslaught on the Ivorian goal but failed to add to the tally, before the Ivorians equalized just before half-time from an intelligently-taken free-kick at the edge of Nigeria’s eighteen-yard box.
Neither team could find another goal to gain upper hand before the end of regulation time inside the Stade General SeyniKountché,and the game went into extra time.
Forward Ibrahim Yahaya got the winner for Nigeria in the 111th minute of play when he converted a penalty spot to make it 2-1.
Nigeria will take on the Benin Republic in Saturday’s final.