Flying Eagles reach WAFU B final after tense shootout victory

|By Babatunji Wusu

…Ebenezer Harcourt stars in goal as Nigeria edge past Niger Republic
…Nigeria to face Ghana or Côte d’Ivoire in title clash

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked their place in the final of the WAFU B U-20 Championship with a nail-biting 4-3 penalty shootout win over Niger Republic, following a goalless 90 minutes at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto-Novo.

The high-stakes semifinal saw the Flying Eagles dominate early proceedings. Divine Oliseh and Muhammed Abdullahi both squandered golden chances in the first half, while goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt pulled off a crucial save to keep Nigeria level heading into the break.

Niger Republic tightened up defensively in the second half, closing down spaces and frustrating Nigeria’s attacking efforts. Despite holding the lion’s share of possession, the Flying Eagles couldn’t find a breakthrough before full-time.

With no extra time in the tournament format, the game went straight to penalties. Harcourt rose to the occasion again, saving two spot-kicks and guiding Nigeria to a dramatic win. The Sporting Lagos goalkeeper was deservedly named Man of the Match for his heroics.

Ladan Bosso’s boys now turn their focus to the final, where they will take on either the host nation Ghana’s Black Stars or Côte d’Ivoire’s Junior Elephants in what promises to be a gripping encounter.