Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have secured a place in the final of the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship after defeating hosts Côte d’Ivoire 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a thrilling 2-2 draw after extra time.
The semi-final clash, played in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday, saw the defending champions battle back twice before holding their nerve from the penalty spot to keep alive their hopes of retaining the regional title and qualifying for next year’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Young Elephants dominated the early exchanges and deservedly took the lead in the 16th minute through Kaita, after Nigeria goalkeeper Clinton Lawani had produced two impressive saves to deny the hosts.
Nigeria responded with greater urgency after the break, and captain Habila Simeon restored parity in the 67th minute with a well-taken header.
With neither side able to find a winner in regulation time, the contest moved into extra time, where Aliyu Abubakar fired the Flying Eagles into a 2-1 lead. However, Côte d’Ivoire struck back before the interval of extra time to level the scores at 2-2.
The game was eventually decided by penalties, where the Flying Eagles converted four spot-kicks to edge the hosts 4-3 and book a place in the championship final.
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The victory keeps Nigeria on course to defend its WAFU B U20 crown while also securing qualification for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Golden Eaglets Begin Preparations for WAFU B U17 Championship
Meanwhile, Head Coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse has invited 62 players to the Golden Eaglets’ training camp in Abuja as preparations begin for this year’s WAFU B U17 Championship.
The provisional squad comprises five goalkeepers, 18 defenders, 20 midfielders and 19 forwards, with players drawn from clubs and football academies across the country.
Eboboritse, alongside his assistants Kalli Mohammed Kachalla and Abdullahi Isa, will oversee the screening exercise as they begin the process of assembling a competitive squad for the regional tournament scheduled for October.
The technical crew hopes to build another successful team capable of extending Nigeria’s rich tradition at youth level, with the country remaining the most successful nation in the history of the FIFA U17 World Cup, having won the title five times.
