Flying Eagles edge Côte d’Ivoire on penalties to reach WAFU B U-20 final

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles secured their spot in the WAFU B U-20 Championship final after a thrilling 4-3 penalty shootout victory over hosts Côte d’Ivoire. The match, which ended 2-2 after extra time, saw goalkeeper Lawani Clinton emerge as the hero of the game, making two crucial saves to secure the Flying Eagles’ advancement. Côte d’Ivoire took the lead in the 18th minute, dominating the early stages of the match.

However, Nigeria equalized in the 68th minute, with captain Habila Simeon scoring the equalizer. The Flying Eagles regained the lead in extra time through Abubakar Aliyu, but Côte d’Ivoire fought back to level the scores in the final moments of added time. Clinton’s performances in the shootout proved decisive, denying two Ivorian penalties and ensuring Nigeria’s progression to the championship match.