Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have booked their place in the final of the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship after edging hosts Côte d’Ivoire 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw after extra time on Wednesday.
The defending champions showed remarkable resilience to recover from an early setback before goalkeeper Clinton Lawani emerged as the hero in the penalty shootout, saving two spot kicks to send Nigeria into another regional final.
The hosts made a bright start and were rewarded midway through the first half when Namory Keita found the back of the net to hand Côte d’Ivoire the lead.
Lawani was called into action on several occasions during the opening period, producing a series of important saves to prevent the Young Elephants from extending their advantage.
Nigeria responded strongly after the break and drew level through captain Habila Simeon, who powered home a header from a well-delivered set-piece to make it 1-1 and breathe new life into the contest.
With neither side able to find a winner during regulation time, the semifinal was forced into extra time.
The Flying Eagles completed the turnaround early in the additional period when substitute Aliyu Abubakar rose highest to head Nigeria into a 2-1 lead from another dangerous set-piece delivery.
However, Côte d’Ivoire refused to surrender and responded before the interval in extra time, restoring parity at 2-2 to set up a dramatic penalty shootout.
When the pressure was at its highest, Lawani once again stepped forward for Nigeria.
The goalkeeper produced two crucial saves in the shootout, while the Flying Eagles held their nerve from the penalty spot to seal a 4-3 victory and secure their place in the championship final.
The win sets up a highly anticipated rematch with Burkina Faso, who earlier defeated Niger to book their place in Sunday’s final.
The two nations met during the group stage, where Burkina Faso claimed a 2-0 victory to finish top of Group B, with Nigeria progressing as runners-up after recording victories in their other matches, including an impressive win over Togo.
Head coach Abdu Maikaba will now have an opportunity to guide the Flying Eagles to back-to-back WAFU B titles after leading the team into another final.
A victory on Sunday would not only see Nigeria retain the regional crown but also secure qualification for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
After overcoming an early deficit against the host nation, the Flying Eagles demonstrated the fighting spirit, aerial dominance, and composure under pressure that have become hallmarks of their campaign.
With confidence restored and revenge against Burkina Faso firmly on their minds, Nigeria will now turn their attention to Sunday’s final as they aim to successfully defend their WAFU B U-20 Championship title.
