AFCON 2025
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles battled past hosts Cote d’Ivoire 4-3 on penalties to reach the final of the 2026 WAFU-B U-20 Championship, avenging last year’s final defeat to the same opponents.
The semi-final finished 2-2 after extra time in Cote d’Ivoire, with goalkeeper Lawani Clinton emerging as the hero. He made two crucial saves in the shootout to send Nigeria through.
Goalkeeper Lawani Clinton was the standout performer, making two crucial saves in the shootout to send the Flying Eagles through.
The hosts started strongly and broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, a goal that ended their clean sheet for the entire tournament. Captain Habila Simeon leveled for the Flying Eagles in the 68th minute with a well-placed header.
Neither side could find a winner in regulation, forcing extra time. Aliyu Abubakar put Nigeria ahead early in the first period, only for Cote d’Ivoire to hit back before the break and force penalties at 2-2.
Simeon missed his spot-kick in the shootout, but Clinton’s heroics between the posts settled the tie in Nigeria’s favor.
The Flying Eagles will now aim to reverse that outcome as they book their place at next year’s U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will take on either Burkina Faso or Niger in the final this weekend.
