Nigeria’s U20 team, Flying Eagles, last night defeated host nation Côte d’Ivoire 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout to set up 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship final against Burkina Faso.
Sunday’s WAFU B U20 AFCON final between Flying Eagles and Burkina Faso will be a repeat of a final Group B clash, which the Burkinabes won 2-0.
Burkina Faso reached the championship game after they stopped Niger 2-0 after extra-time today, while Nigeria beat hosts Cote d’Ivoire 4-3 on penalties after scores were tied at 2-2.
The Flying Eagles are the defending champions of the sub-regional tournament after they beat Ghana 2-1 in the 2024 edition of the competition.
The hosts started on the front foot and controlled the tempo from kickoff. They came close to an early opener twice in the 12th and 14th minutes, but Flying Eagles goalkeeper Clinton Lawani was alert and kept Nigeria in the game. The pressure eventually told in the 16th minute when Côte d’Ivoire’s Kaita slotted home to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
