SAN FRANCISCO, December 10, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Under-20 national team, the Flying Eagles on Wednesday lost 1-0 to the Black Satellites of Ghana in the ongoing West African Football Union (WAFU) U-20 Championship in Benin Republic.
In a blunt first half, the Flying Eagles dominated possession as the game progressed. However, as was the case in the game against Cote d’Ivoire, the team lacked the clinical edge in front of goal.
Wisdom Ubani, who was also impressive against the Ivorians, thought he had broken the stalemate when he found the net but the centre referee disallowed the goal for offside.
The second half resumed with Nigeria still pressing, playing with a lot more urgency that displayed an awareness of the odds at stake. They ratcheted up nine corner kicks but could not find the stellar quality to rattle Ibrahim Danlad in goal for the Black Satellites.
Instead, it was Ghana’s Precious Boah that broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute through a superb free-kick. There was little to show for the pressing of the Flying Eagles even after coach Ladan Bosso made some substitutions to force an equaliser.
The Black Satellites defended well as a unit to neutralise all the threats from Nigeria. However, in stoppage time, a Ghanaian player was sent off for time wasting.
The result puts the team’s chances of advancing to the semi-finals in jeopardy. Bosso’s charges failed to hold on to their lead in the opening tie of the competition against the Junior Elephants of Cote d’Voire after they were reduced to 10 men when goal-scorer Christopher Nwaeze got his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Now, Nigeria’s hope of qualifying hinge on the Black Satellites of Ghana beating the Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire by more than a goal.
The winner of the WAFU U-20 Zone B championship automatically qualifies for the 2021 CAF U-20 AFCON in Mauritania.
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