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WAFU CUP OF NATIONS: NIGERIA PAYS THE PENALTY!

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Cape Verde shocked African football giants Nigeria 3-2 on penalties in the Plate quarterfinal following a 1-1 stalemate in the WAFU Cup of Nations in Thiés, Senegal.

Imama Amapakabo’s charges dominated proceedings at the Stade Lat Dior but failed to make their dominance count.

Striker Ibrahim Sunusi couldn’t guide home a loose ball inside the six yard area when Cape Verde keeper Keven Sousa fumbled a set piece to his path but he miscued his effort.

Williams Ukeme came close to giving the Super Eagles the lead with a fierce strike from distance, which missed the target. 

The Blue Sharks had to wait until five minutes before the break when a quick counter down the left channel freed Erickson Soares whose speculative effort was straight at Adamu Abubakar.

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Exciting midfielder Aires Fernandes beat a couple of Super Eagles’ challenges out side the area before shooting over the goal on the stroke of halftime.

Cape Verde triumph via penalty shootout

Cape Verde came close a minute after the break through Hernan Cardoso who forced a smart save from keeper Abubakar.

The 2017 WAFU finalists who broke the deadlock on 64 minutes through Sikiru Alimi’s close range effort giving them the lead with 25 minutes still on the clock.

The battling Blue Sharks left it late to stun the Nigerians when Cardoso headed home the equaliser to force the match to penalties. 

Reuben Yakubu, John Lazarus and Oluwadamilae Olatunji all missed their spot kick to give Cape Verde a 3-2 visitory.

Match of the match – Ibrahima Sunusi (Nigeria)

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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