Nigeria secured their place in the final of the third edition of the WAFU B U20 Cup with a hard-fought penalty shootout victory over Niger following a goalless stalemate in regulation time.
The semi-final clash offered little room for hesitation as both teams began the encounter with intensity.
The first half was evenly contested, with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles enjoying marginal control of possession.
However, both sides struggled to carve out clear-cut chances, with disciplined defensive displays stifling attacking momentum throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The second half mirrored the first in both rhythm and resistance.
While both teams showed more urgency in the final third, neither was able to unlock their opponent’s defence.
Nigeria’s Ebenezer Ifeanyi Harcourt stood tall in goal to deny the few threatening advances from the Mena, while Niger’s Almoustapha Zacou responded with his own series of crucial interventions to keep his side in the game.
Despite the increased tempo, neither side found a breakthrough, and the match headed into penalties with the score still locked at 0-0.
In the shootout, Niger faltered early, missing their first two attempts and failing to recover the deficit.
Nigeria capitalised on their opponent’s missteps, holding their nerve despite a missed third kick to eventually triumph 4-3.
The result sees the Flying Eagles book their place in the tournament final once again, repeating their semi-final success over Niger as they did in the 2024 edition in Lomé.
For the Mena, it was another painful exit at the same stage, falling just short of their first final appearance.
Nigeria now turn their focus to the championship match, buoyed by their resilience and defensive solidity.
The Flying Eagles will be looking to lift the trophy and reaffirm their dominance in the West African youth football scene.
