Harcourt the hero as Nigeria hold nerve in tense shootout to seal final spot in Ghana.
Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, have qualified for the 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship in Ghana after edging the Niger Republic 4-3 on penalties in a nerve-racking semifinal that ended goalless in regulation time.
From the first whistle, the Flying Eagles controlled proceedings and dictated the tempo. However, while they displayed attacking intent, their finishing lacked the sharpness needed to convert opportunities into goals.
Despite creating a handful of chances in the first half, including three shots that sailed off target, Nigeria failed to capitalise, allowing Niger Republic to grow more confident in their defensive game plan.
Although the Nigeriens barely threatened the Nigerian goal, their discipline in defence was commendable. They adopted a low block strategy, often deploying up to seven players behind the ball to frustrate the Nigerian attackers. As a result, the Flying Eagles’ second-half dominance also went unrewarded, forcing the encounter into penalties.
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Shootout tension and Harcourt’s heroics
In the shootout, both teams started on shaky ground. Niger Republic’s first spot-kick was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, giving Nigeria an early edge. Yet, the Flying Eagles failed to fully capitalise when defender Tahir Maigana sent his effort wide.
Despite the early miss, Nigeria held their composure and responded with clinical precision. Four of their remaining penalties were converted with confidence. Meanwhile, Niger faltered under pressure and could only convert two more, handing Nigeria a 4-3 victory from the spot.
With this result, the Flying Eagles now march into the final of the WAFU B tournament, keeping alive their hopes of regional glory. They will face either hosts Ghana or fierce West African rivals Côte d’Ivoire in what promises to be a thrilling decider.
Tags: Flying Eagles, Niger Republic, Nigerien, Côte d’Ivoire, WAFU B U20, WAFU B U20 final, #WAFUBU20, Ebenezer Harcourt, Tahir Maigana, Ghana.
