Flying Eagles to Face Côte d’Ivoire in WAFU B Final
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will face Côte d’Ivoire in the final of the 2025 WAFU B U-20 Championship, following a pair of dramatic semi-final victories on Sunday in Prampram, Ghana.
In the first semi-final, Nigeria edged Niger Republic 4–3 in a tense penalty shootout after a goalless 90 minutes.
The Flying Eagles dominated possession but were repeatedly denied by a disciplined Nigerien defense. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt emerged as the hero, saving a crucial spot-kick and earning the Player of the Match award.
Later in the evening, Côte d’Ivoire stunned hosts Ghana with a 2–1 comeback win. Ghana struck early through Benjamin Tsivanyo in the second minute, but the Junior Elephants responded with a penalty from Abdoul Bamba and a match-winning goal by Ali Kone in the 70th minute.
The final will be held on Wednesday, July 23, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
Nigeria’s Road to the Final
Group Stage: Drew 1–1 vs Ghana, beat Benin Republic
Semi-final: Beat Niger Republic 4–3 on penalties
Côte d’Ivoire’s Journey
Group Stage: Advanced from Group B
Semi-final: Beat Ghana 2–1
Both teams are using the tournament as a warm-up for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, where Nigeria will face Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia in Group F. The Flying Eagles qualified by finishing third at the U-20 AFCON in Egypt.
