Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria are through to the final of the WAFU B Under 17 AFCON Championship and have sealed a place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria next year following their 3-1 win over the Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday evening reports Prime Business Africa.
Cote d’Ivoire went ahead barely a minute into the game through Youle Diamande from the penalty spot when Miracle Ogbor fouled him in the box.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNigeria skipper Precious Williams went close to restoring parity for the Golden Eaglets in the 15th minute but his attempted shot at goal was snuffed out by Idrisse Coulibaly.
The Eaglets however got their first goal through free kick specialist Emmanuel Michael in the 31st minute who converted from an almost impossible angle four minutes to half time.
The left back repeated the trick before the break with an exquisite execution from 25 yards.
Nduka Ugbade’s lads made it 3-1 with an hour played through Abubakar Abdullahi who headed the ball beyond goalkeeper Mohammed Cisse.
The Ivorians were reduced to 10 men when Makhete N’Diaye was sent off for his second bookable offence.
Mercurial midfielder Ebube Okere missed a glit-edge chance for Nigeria while substitute Umar Abubakar went close before the full time.
The Nigerian side will face the winner between Ghana and Burkina Faso in the final of the WAFU B Championship this weekend.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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