Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have advanced to the final of the 2025 WAFU B U-20 Championship after edging out Niger Republic 4–3 in a tense penalty shootout on Sunday afternoon at the Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana.
The highly anticipated semi-final ended goalless in regulation time, as both teams battled under humid conditions in a closely contested encounter. While the Flying Eagles showed greater attacking intent, they were repeatedly denied by a disciplined Nigerien backline and an inspired performance from Niger’s goalkeeper.
Nigeria came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second half when captain Daniel Bameyi struck a powerful effort from distance, forcing a fingertip save, and winger Clinton Jephta saw his low shot cannon off the post in the 78th minute.
At the other end, goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt remained alert, pulling off a key stop late on to prevent a Nigerien counterattack from spoiling Nigeria’s chances.
With no extra time played in the tournament’s knockout phase, the game went straight to penalties. The Flying Eagles held their nerve in the shootout, converting four of their five spot-kicks, while Niger missed two—one saved by Harcourt and another blazed over the bar.
Celebrations erupted on the Nigerian bench as the final kick was buried, sealing a hard-fought win and sending Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side into the final. The veteran tactician, who won the title in Lome, Togo in 2024 defeating Ghana in the final, commended his players’ fighting spirit.
“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” Zubairu said in his post-match remarks. “Niger were compact and disciplined, but we trusted our process. I’m proud of how the boys handled the pressure—this is part of their growth.”
With the win, Nigeria have set up a final showdown with Côte d’Ivoire who edged hosts Ghana 2-1 in the semifinals on Sunday evening—the final is set to take place on Tuesday 22nd July 2025.
The stakes for the final are immense. Not only will the winner claim the WAFU B U-20 crown, but both finalists will automatically secure qualification for the next U-20 Africa Cup of Nations—making the Flying Eagles just one win away from returning to the continental stage.
Fans and football stakeholders across Nigeria will be hoping the team can continue their impressive form and retain their WAFU B U-20 title, as the country’s legacy in youth football remains as strong as ever.