Nigeria U20 seal semi-final spot as Adeleke double sinks Togo

Abdulmuiz Adeleke struck twice in the second half as Nigeria beat Togo 3-0 to book their place in the WAFU B U20 Championship semi-finals and underline their status as defending champions.

The Flying Eagles, who opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Ghana, laboured through a subdued first half but exploded into life after the interval, with Chelsea-linked forward Adeleke taking his tournament tally to four goals in two matches. Abdoulaye Agbeloye added a late third to complete a commanding Group B victory.

Nigeria now sit top of Group B with maximum points from two games and are assured of progressing to the last four. They will secure first place if they avoid defeat in their final group fixture against Burkina Faso on Sunday.

Adeleke turns game after flat first half

Nigeria controlled possession for long spells before the break but struggled to turn that dominance into clear chances against a well-organised Togo side.

Despite pinning the Young Sparrowhawks back and enjoying territorial superiority, the Flying Eagles failed to register a single effort on target in the opening 45 minutes, in stark contrast to their free-scoring display against Ghana’s Black Satellites.

The match swung decisively less than two minutes after the restart. Adeleke escaped his marker, drove into the area and calmly slid his finish under the goalkeeper to finally break Togo’s resistance.

The goal seemed to jolt Nigeria out of their lethargy. Just before the hour mark, Adeleke struck again, showcasing the qualities that have attracted attention from Chelsea.

The teenager outpaced a Togolese defender in behind, rounded the goalkeeper and side-footed into an empty net to double the lead and effectively settle the contest.

The brace was Adeleke’s second of the tournament, following two successful penalties in the opening win against Ghana. Having also undergone trials with Chelsea and Strasbourg, he now leads the scoring charts at this year’s competition.

Agbeloye finishes the job

With five minutes remaining, Agbeloye added further gloss to the scoreline, converting Nigeria’s third of the evening to seal another comfortable win for the seven-time African champions at U20 level.

The result leaves Nigeria in a strong position heading into their final group match against Burkina Faso. A draw or a win against the Baby Stallions will confirm the Flying Eagles as Group B winners.

Group A landscape and qualification stakes

In Group A, hosts Cote d’Ivoire have emerged as early favourites after a powerful start. The Young Elephants opened their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Benin Republic and currently lead the group.

Niger sit behind them after inflicting a 1-0 defeat on the same Benin side, a result that confirmed Benin as the first team eliminated from the competition, with only three nations in that group.

The stakes are high across both groups, as only the two finalists at this WAFU B U20 Championship will qualify for the next edition of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.