By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, Flying Eagles of Nigeria Wednesday afternoon at the Stade Charles Konan in Yamoussoukro defeated hosts Ivory Coast 4-3 on penalty shootouts after 2-2 at extra time to qualify to play the WAFU Zone U20 finals back-to-back.
Ivory Coast scored her first three kicks of the penalties losing the last two while Nigeria only lost her second kick of the five kicks given each team.
The Ivoriens opened the score sheet before Nigeria scored the equalizer and then Abubakar Aliyu got Nigeria’s 2nd goal to make it 2-1 at exactly 90 minutes of play. Nigeria’ defence were flat footed and Victor of Ivory Coast nipped the equalizer 2-2 in the 104th minute of injury time.
Nigeria before Victor scored would have made it 3-1 four minutes before the Ivoriens equalized but the Nigerian attacker played to the gallery dribbling everyone including the goal post as he shot wide making the bench to shout on him.
Ivorien Mamory Keita in shirt no 9 was elected as Man of the match.
Nigeria and Ivory Coast met 7 times since 2015 at this age group level and Nigeria won four times with the Ivoriens winning one. Although the biggest win was Nga 3 CIV 0 IN Youth Championship match of January 2009 Nigeria won two of the three times they met at CAF U20 level.
The 2nd semifinal between Niger Republic and Burkina Faso is ongoing. The 3rd place match will be played before the finals on 9th August.
The finalists now including Nigeria and the Bronze medalists at WAFU will join Ghana that will host the CAF U20 tournament next year.
#WAFU #NFF #IFF.
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