WAFU CUP
How Flying Eagles soared above Ghana’s Black Starlets to win WAFU title
Slippery forward Kparobo Arierhi netted a brace as champions Nigeria successfully defended their WAFU U20 title on Wednesday night after a 2-1 defeat of regional rivals Ghana in this year’s final in Lome.
The Flying Eagles dominated large swatches of the encounter, but it turned out a game of two halves Nigeria were imperious in the first half and Ghana turned on the heat in the second.
Harcourt came up with a clever palm-down when the Ghanaians broke through from the left with a cross and a header in the 14th minute, and then punched the ball away after a point-blank shot as the Satellites waltzed their way into the box from the right in added time.
In-between, Kparobo Arierhi had concluded the damage. First, in the 34th minute, he received a pass on the edge of the box as the Flying Eagles broke forward on the right, and scored with the trusted poacher’s calm, left-footed finish into the bottom corner, with the goalkeeper clutching grass.
The second was more spectacular. Nigerian manfully snatched the ball half-way into the Satellites’ area, and a couple of passes left Kparobo, who plays his club football for Beyond Limits FC, and had scored Nigeria’s winner in the 2-1 win over Cote d’Ivoire in the group phase, face to face with the goalkeeper. Without any attempt at showboating, he unleashed a right-footed rocket right into the roof of the net.
On the hour, Nigeria had to spiritedly clear their lines as the Black Satellites, in a rare onslaught, picked the pockets of several defenders and got the ball past goalkeeper Harcourt.
Five minutes later, Nigeria again escaped through stout defending as a flurry of shots from inside and outside the box simply failed to get the ball beyond Harcourt.
The pressure finally paid off for the Ghanaians in the 74th minute, as they reduced the tally following a goalmouth melee.
However, the Flying Eagles held on to retain their trophy won two years ago in Niger Republic, and with Kparobo Arierhi collecting the Man-of-the-Match award.
Nigeria and Ghana will represent WAFU B at next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations, to be hosted by South Africa.
The Young Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire were crowned champions of the 2025 WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament after a narrow 1-0 victory over Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in a tense final played on Wednesday in Accra, Ghana.
The Ivorians capped a flawless campaign with their fifth consecutive win, showcasing discipline, cohesion, and tactical superiority throughout the tournament.
Their triumph was sealed deep into stoppage time, when Nigerian goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt mishandled a free-kick, allowing Zakaria Tindano to pounce and score the only goal of the match.
Côte d’Ivoire’s path to the title was nothing short of impressive. They opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso, followed by 1-0 and 2-0 victories against Niger Republic and Togo, respectively, in the group stage. In the semi-final, they came from behind to eliminate hosts Ghana with a 2-1 comeback win.
For Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, it was a hard-fought final against an in-form opponent. The seven-time African champions put up a resilient display and held their own until the late lapse that proved costly.
Despite the loss, Nigeria’s run to the final remains commendable, and the experience will be vital as the team looks ahead to future continental and global competitions.
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Accra, Ghana – July 22, 2025. Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, are bracing for a fierce battle as they face in-form Cote d’Ivoire in the Final of the WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament on Wednesday, July 23, at the Centre of Excellence in Prampram, Ghana.
The Young Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire have been the tournament’s most dominant side, winning all four of their matches en route to the final. T
hey opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso, before dispatching Niger Republic 1-0 and Togo 2-0 in the group phase.
In Sunday’s semi-final, the Ivorians showcased their fighting spirit by coming from behind to defeat host nation Ghana 2-1, further underlining their resilience and all-round quality.
On the other hand, the Flying Eagles reached the final through a mix of grit and firepower. After drawing 1-1 with Ghana in their opening game — thanks to an 84th-minute equalizer by forward Mohammed Abdullahi — they roared back from behind to crush Benin Republic 4-1 in their second group match.
Their semi-final clash against Niger Republic proved more nervy, ending 0-0 in regulation time before the Nigerians edged it 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout to book their place in the final.
As anticipation builds for Wednesday’s showdown, all eyes will be on Head Coach Ladan Bosso’s successor, Aliyu Zubair, who continues to build a winning résumé. Zubair led the Flying Eagles to victory in last year’s WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo and secured a spot at the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which in turn earned Nigeria a place at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Key players to watch for Nigeria include the influential Mohammed Abdullahi and midfield maestro Ezekiel Kpangu, both of whom have been central to the team’s attacking play. Cote d’Ivoire, however, boast their own match-winners in Abdoul Bamba and Ali Kone — players who have terrorized defences throughout the competition.
Wednesday’s final is expected to draw top dignitaries, including WAFU B President and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), who will be joined by other high-ranking officials of the regional body to witness what promises to be a thrilling contest.
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Nigeria’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, bounced back from an early setback to overpower the Junior Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-1 in an impressive outing marked by attacking flair and second-half dominance.
The match got off to a sluggish start for the Flying Eagles as Benin Republic came out with high intensity and purpose. Their early aggression paid off in the 24th minute when Junior Olugbade curled a superb free-kick into the bottom corner, giving the Junior Cheetahs a well-deserved lead.
However, Nigeria found their rhythm before halftime, with Mohammed Abdullahi levelling the score after capitalising on sustained pressure to send both teams into the break tied at 1-1.
The Flying Eagles returned from the interval with renewed energy and purpose, quickly asserting control. Their efforts bore fruit when a well-orchestrated attacking move ended with Ezekiel Kpangu calmly slotting home to give Nigeria a 2-1 advantage.
Moments later, Imrana Mohammed added a third goal, weaving through the Beninese defence before placing a composed finish beyond the goalkeeper.
The victory was sealed in the closing stages, as a precise long pass found Imrana Mohammed in stride. The forward turned provider, setting up Abdulahi Majid, who unleashed a stunning long-range effort from outside the box to make it 4-1.
Defender Odinaka Okoro was named Man of the Match for his commanding presence at the back and contribution to the team’s overall performance.
With this result, the Flying Eagles showcased their resilience and attacking strength, sending a strong signal as they continue their campaign.
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