WAFU-B Championship: Relief for Ladan Bosso as Flying Eagles clinch final ticket

WAFU-B Championship: Relief for Ladan Bosso as Flying Eagles clinch final ticket

It’s a huge relief for Coach Isa Ladan Bosso as the Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, on Tuesday night defeated Baby Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire 2-1 in the second semi-final of the ongoing WAFU-B Championship in Niger Republic.

The hard fought victory saw the team setting up the final of the tournament with Benin republic and also booked a ticket to the U-20 Nations Cup in Egypt next year.

Flying Eagles, who had earlier in their opening group stage match edged Ghana 2-0 before playing out a 2-2 draw against Burkina Faso in the second game were once again put to a tough test in a ‘crunchy’ tie against the Ivorians.

A tough-soaked encounter,
Daniel Daga had put Nigeria in front after only five minutes when he cleverly escaped the attention of the Ivorian defenders to nod in from a well-weighted pull out.

A wasteful Nigerian team would eventually be pushed to the wall when the Ivorians equalized just before half time from a well-taken free kick at the edge of the box.

The game, which would the later be dragged in to the extra time saw the two sides going toe to toe with each other whilst they play with caution.

The Ladan Bosso-tutored side got their respite in the 111th minutes when Ibrahim Yahaya converted the penalty from the spot to hand the team the much needed goal after Tolulope Ojo was hacked down in the box.

Bosso, who is also the President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) came under fierce criticism after his reappointment as the Head Coach of the team last month upon the background of his failure to qualify the team from the zonal tournament in their last outing.

The tactician will be looking forward to consolidate his efforts when his boys square up against neighbours, Benin Republic in Saturday’s final billed for the Stade General Seyni Kountché in Niamey.

Benin Republic had earlier book the final ticket after defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the first semi-final.