Two goals by Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta and a late strike by substitute Alonge Olalekan earned Nigeria a come from behind 3-1 win over Niger Republic in Lome, Togo to advance to the final of the WAFU B U20 Championship on Sunday night.
The Junior Menas of Niger took a shock lead in the ninth minute when midfielder Abdoul Majid Alzouma volleyed home impeccably from 25 yards but the Flying Eagles responded in style to secure their passage to a second final in a row at the WAFU B level.
After they successfully weathered the initial storm, the Nigerians coached by El-Kanemi coach Aliyu Zubair soon began to create chances at the other end. The equaliser came in the 35th minute after Jephta who was teed up by Nasiru Salihu fired home a daisy cutter with his weaker left foot from 20 yards into the bottom right.
It was important for the Flying Eagles to go into the break on level terms and that momentum continued after the break with Jephta finishing off Bidemi Amole’s low cross in the 58th minute to complete the turnaround for Nigeria.
Nigerian goalkeeper Harcourt Ifeanyi made a couple of fine saves to deny the Nigeriens before Alonge slammed home in stoppage time to put paid to any hopes of Niger to force an extra-time in the game.
Winger Clinton Jephta was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the semi-final after his two-goal performance inspired the Flying Eagles to a second consecutive comeback win in Lome, taking his own tally to three goals in three games.
Nigeria, by this result have now qualified for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations alongside the Black Satellites of Ghana who they will face in Wednesday’s final of the WAFU B Championship at the Stade de Kegue du Lome.
