Nigeria’s national under-20 team, the Flying Eagles were on Sunday defeated by the Teranga Cubs of Senegal 2-0 in the final of the 2018 West African Football Union (WAFU) UFOA B Under-20 Championship concluded in Lome, Togo on Sunday.
Both teams (Senegal and Nigeria) won their semi-final games via penalties against Niger and Mali respectively on Friday to set the stage for Sunday’s finale at the Stade Municipal in the Togolese capital.
After an entertaining but goalless first half, the Senegalese shot to the lead three minutes after the break courtesy of the lively Amadou Sagna. Senegalese goalkeeper Daily Kobaly Ndiaye then had to be at his best do deny Nigeria a couple of great scoring opportunities to keep the scoreline 1-0.
The Teranga Cubs then doubled their advantage twenty minutes from time through forward Youssouph Mbadji’s fine finish from inside the penalty box. There was no way back from Nigeria at that point any longer.
Senegal thus win the inaugural edition of the WAFU Under-20 championship and Sunday’s win was the second the West African nation would record over Nigerian in forty-eight hours after the Senegalese Beach Soccer team walloped Nigeria’s Sand Eagles at the African Beach Soccer Championship final in Egypt.
Both Senegal and Nigeria have used this tournament to prepare for the 2019 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Niger Republic next year February. Both teams have been kept apart in the continental tournament draws.
The Nigerian team are coached by Paul Aigbogun, assisted by Abdu Maikaba and captained by Enyimba left back Ikouwem Udo Utin.
Earlier on Sunday, the Young Eagles of Mali won the third place playoff game by defeating the Junior Menas of Niger 2-1, at the same venue in Lome.
