Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were handed a painful defeat after conceding a last-minute goal to Ivory Coast in the final of the WAFU B Under 20 Championship, bringing their title defence to a sudden and heartbreaking end.
The final match, played at the University of Ghana Stadium, was expected to be a thrilling showdown between two West African giants in youth football. Nigeria came into the contest as the defending champions and had enjoyed a strong campaign leading up to the final.
Ivory Coast, on the other hand, had been unbeaten throughout the tournament and showed great discipline on the field.
The Flying Eagles had started brightly, controlling much of the first half and pushing the Ivorians back with a series of strong plays in midfield. Nigeria created a number of good chances but failed to find the back of the net, as the Ivorian defence held firm under pressure.
After the break, Ivory Coast stepped up their game and began to ask more questions of Nigeria’s backline. Their attack became more dangerous, and it was clear both teams were aiming to settle the game without penalties.
As the final minutes ticked away and the game looked set to be decided through spot kicks, disaster struck for the Flying Eagles. An Ivorian free kick from distance was poorly handled by Nigeria’s goalkeeper.
The ball spilled into the path of forward Dindane, who reacted quickly and slammed home the rebound to give Ivory Coast a late lead. That goal proved to be the difference, and the Ivorians held on through the final seconds to lift the trophy.
