March 06, (THEWILL) – In a stunning upset, Gambia qualified for their first-ever U-20 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the semi-finals on Monday.
Adama Bojang scored an early goal, and Nigeria had a chance to level the score with a penalty but substitute, Ahmed Abdullahi, missed.
Indeed, the Flying Eagles had the first opportunity to score but Ibrahim Muhammed’s shot missed the target. Gambia took the lead in the ninth minute with Bojang’s goal, and nearly doubled their lead on a counter-attack in the 23rd minute.
The match’s turning point came with seven minutes left when the Flying Eagles were awarded a penalty, but Abdullahi’s shot hit the post. In the 89th minute, Gambia was reduced to 10 men following a rash challenge by Haruna Rasid Njie but they held on to win and secure their spot in the final.
It was a historic victory for Gambia, who will now have the chance to claim their first-ever AFCON title. They have not conceded a goal in the tournament but that will be put to the test when they face Senegal in the final, while Nigeria will play Tunisia for third place.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
