The whistle hadn’t even stopped echoing when Junior Olugbade’s free kick curled like a scorpion’s tail into Nigeria’s net. The Benin Republic’s bench erupted; their tactical gamble to sit deep and strike on set-pieces had worked. The Flying Eagles, tournament favorites, found themselves trailing 1-0 to the Junior Cheetahs in a tense WAFU B U20 Championship quarterfinal.
For 40 minutes, Nigeria’s attacks crashed against Benin’s defensive wall like waves on granite. Then, just before halftime, the breakthrough came. A loose ball in the box, a flash of green, and Mohammed Abdullahi pounced like a panther to level the score. The equalizer changed everything.
Emerging from the tunnel, the Flying Eagles carried a different energy. Coach’s words still ringing in their ears, they moved the ball with purpose. In the 55th minute, the transformation bore fruit, Ezekiel Kpangu finishing a move so fluid it seemed choreographed.
Then came Imrana Mohammed’s moment of magic. Receiving the ball near midfield in the 68th minute, the winger turned defender after defender inside out before slotting home with the calmness of a veteran. The stadium announcer barely finished calling his name when Mohammed turned provider, laying off for Abdulahi Majid to unleash a 25-yard thunderbolt in the 87th minute.
While Mohammed orchestrated the attack, defender Odinaka Okoro marshaled a backline that grew more impenetrable as the match progressed.
His timely interventions and vocal leadership earned him Man of the Match honors, a defender’s reward for enabling the attackers’ fireworks.
As the final whistle blew on the 4-1 victory, the Flying Eagles’ bench emptied in celebration. What began as a potential upset became a statement win, showcasing Nigeria’s depth of talent and mental resilience.
With momentum firmly in their wings, the Flying Eagles now await their semifinal opponent. This performance sent a clear message to Ghana and Togo: Nigeria’s U20s are finding their rhythm at the perfect time.
The lesson was clear: give this Nigerian team time to adjust, and they’ll give you ninety minutes of hell.
Final Score: Nigeria 4 (Abdullahi 40′, Kpangu 55′, Mohammed 68′, Majid 87′) – 1 Benin Republic (Olugbade 24′)
Man of the Match: Odinaka Okoro (Nigeria)
Next: Semifinal vs Ghana/Togo
