2023 African Games: Nigeria 2-0 Uganda: Falconets inch closer to gold defense

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s national U-20 women’s team is on the brink of retaining their gold medal in the women’s football event at the African Games after securing a 2-0 victory over Uganda in the semi-final.

Christopher Danjuma’s side triumphed in a hard-fought encounter, with second-half goals from Adaobi Okah and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu sealing their place in the final.

Okah broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, providing a crucial breakthrough in a tightly contested match in Cape Coast.

Rivers Angels’ Okwuchukwu doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 89th minute, ensuring their passage to the final.

Having clinched the gold medal in 2019, Nigeria now awaits the winner of the second semi-final between hosts Ghana and Senegal.

A potential final showdown against Ghana would be a rematch of the 2023 WAFU-B U-20 Women’s Championship final, which saw Ghana emerge victorious on penalties.

Alternatively, a clash with Senegal would see a rematch between the two teams from Group B, where Nigeria previously defeated their fellow West African side.

With a flawless record of three wins without conceding a goal thus far, a victory in the final would secure consecutive gold medals for Danjuma’s team, cementing their status as a dominant force in African youth football.