The Baby Elephants of Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria’s national under-17 male football team 3-2 to win the WAFU “B” U-17 Tournament in Lome, Togo.
The Golden Eaglets were unable to defend the title they won two years ago after going down to the Ivorians for the second time in the regional tournament.
Nigeria, five-times world champions, fought from 0-3 down to score twice, but it was a little too late for a comeback on the night.
The impressive Ivorians finished the tournament unbeaten by winning all their four matches, while Nigeria on the other hand won just one in four matches.
The Eaglets had started the competition poorly, losing their first match 0-1 to the same Ivorians, and then drew 1-1 with Ghana.
Nigeria squeezed through to the semi-finals on account of goals difference, before pipping Burkina Faso 1-0 to qualify for the final.
Both finalists, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, have also qualified for the 2021 CAF U-17 AFCON slated for Morocco later in the year.
Earlier in the evening, Burkina Faso’s Baby Etalons, who lost 0-1 to Nigeria in the semi finals, grabbed the tournament’s bronze medals after an 11-10 penalty shoot-out win over Niger Republic following 1-1 draw in the classification match.
The Golden Eaglets’ contingent is expected back in Nigeria on Tuesday.