Nigeria beat Cote d’Ivoire on penalties to reach WAFU B U20 Championship final

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles reached the final of the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship after overcoming hosts Cote d’Ivoire 4-3 on penalties following a tense 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Goalkeeper Lawani was the decisive figure in the shootout, saving two spot kicks to send Nigeria through after neither side could find a winning goal during 120 minutes at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

Cote d’Ivoire made the stronger start and took the lead in the 17th minute through Namory Keita. The hosts used their early dominance to put Nigeria under pressure, controlling possession and limiting the Flying Eagles’ opportunities in attack.

Nigeria struggled to create clear openings in the final third during the first half. Cote d’Ivoire defended their advantage effectively and went into the interval with a 1-0 lead.

The hosts continued to protect their narrow advantage after the restart, but Nigeria gradually increased the pressure as they searched for an equaliser.

Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when Habila Simeon levelled the contest. The defender met a long throw-in inside the penalty area and powered a header past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

Both teams had chances to settle the semi-final in regulation time, but neither could produce a decisive finish. The match therefore went into extra time, with the Flying Eagles making the brighter start to the additional period.

Nigeria moved ahead shortly after the restart when Abubakar Aliyu rose highest to meet another long throw-in. The forward made excellent contact with a glancing header, giving the Flying Eagles a 2-1 lead.

Cote d’Ivoire refused to give up in front of their home supporters and found another response in the 104th minute. Nigeria failed to clear the danger inside their own area, allowing the hosts to restore parity at 2-2.

There were no further goals during extra time, meaning the outcome had to be decided from the penalty spot.

Lawani then delivered under pressure for Nigeria, producing two saves during the shootout as the Flying Eagles eventually prevailed 4-3. The result secured their place in the final of the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship and ended Cote d’Ivoire’s hopes of reaching the title decider on home soil.

The semi-final had twice seen Nigeria come from behind, first after Keita’s early opener and later following Cote d’Ivoire’s equaliser in extra time. However, the Nigerian side held their nerve in the decisive shootout, with Lawani’s intervention proving crucial to their progress.

By surviving a demanding encounter against the tournament hosts, Nigeria have now advanced to the final after a match that included four goals, extra time and a penalty shootout.