Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles humbled their Ghanaian counterparts 2-0 in the opening match of Group B of the WAFU B U20 Championship in Niamey on Sunday.
The victory has handed the young Eagles three points and propelling them into the semi-finals of a competition from where the zone’s flag-bearers to next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations will be known.
Aminu Muhammad wasted no time as he shot Nigeria into the lead with a well taken strike. Adams Olubi could have made it 2-0 for Nigeria towards the end of the first half but fluffed his lines after a good team move had carved open the Ghanaian rearguard and left him with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The Flying Eagles eventually made sure of the three points in the second half at the Stade General Seyni Kountché, when substitute Ahmed Abdullahi slotted into the net in the 78th minute after a series of onslaughts left the Ghanaians in disarray.
The three points put Nigeria in pole position to qualify from a group that has only three teams. The Flying Eagles will play their last match of the group on Wednesday against Burkina Faso.
The reigning African champions Ghana, huffed and puffed for the equaliser but the Flying Eagles were fully in control of the wind of play as they dominated the midfield.
The Nigerian goalkeeper had a field day as Ghana could barely construct any meaningful attack. The result could determine the fate of defending African champions Ghana, as they would be condemned to defeat the Burkinabes when both teams clash at the same venue on Sunday next week.