Nigeria’s U-20 football team, the Flying Eagles, marked a significant milestone, their 100th match in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Kenya. This hard-fought encounter, held in Cairo on Wednesday, secured their second-place finish in Group B and a coveted spot in the quarter-finals of the tournament. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Nigeria showcasing resilience by twice coming from behind to equalize against a spirited Kenyan side. The result underscored the Flying Eagles’ consistent performance in the group stage, remaining unbeaten throughout the three matches.
The game began with an early setback for Nigeria, as Kenya stunned them with a sixth-minute penalty, calmly converted by Kévin Injehu after a handball was given against Emmanuel Chukwu. The Flying Eagles, however, quickly regrouped and responded with an equalizer just seven minutes later. Kparobo Arierhi found the back of the net with a clinical finish from close range, capitalizing on a well-placed through ball from Simon Cletus. The remainder of the first half saw an end-to-end affair, with both teams creating opportunities but failing to convert. Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu, produced two crucial saves to deny Aldrine Kibet, keeping the score level at halftime.
The second half mirrored the intensity of the first, with both teams vying for the lead. Kenya once again surged ahead in the 68th minute, thanks to a close-range strike by substitute William Gitama. Gitama capitalized on a dangerous delivery from Humphrey Obina to give Kenya a 2-1 advantage. Nigeria’s response was immediate and decisive. Just four minutes later, Rickson Mendos was fouled inside the box, earning the Flying Eagles a penalty. Captain Daniel Bameyi stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, restoring parity at 2-2.
The final stages of the match witnessed a relentless onslaught from Nigeria, who dominated possession and carved out several scoring chances. However, a combination of wayward finishing and the impressive goalkeeping of Kenya’s Andres Omondi kept the scoreline unchanged. Divine Oliseh, Tahir Maigana, and Mendos all had late attempts that went agonizingly close, but ultimately, Nigeria had to settle for a draw. Despite the missed opportunities, the result ensured their progression to the quarter-finals.
The 2-2 draw against Kenya meant Nigeria finished the group stage with five points, securing the second spot in Group B behind Morocco, who topped the group with seven points after a 3-1 victory over Tunisia. Nigeria’s group stage campaign began with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisia, followed by a goalless draw against group winners Morocco. Remarkably, this marks the eighth time the Flying Eagles have navigated the group stage of the U-20 AFCON without suffering a defeat.
This achievement further solidifies Nigeria’s impressive record in the competition, highlighting their consistent ability to progress beyond the group stages. In their last twelve appearances, the Flying Eagles have reached the knockout stages ten times, demonstrating their status as a continental football powerhouse at the U-20 level. However, despite their unbeaten run and qualification for the next round, the team’s attacking output remains a concern. Scoring only three goals in three matches, the Flying Eagles finished as the lowest-scoring team in Group B, a statistic that underscores the need for improved finishing in the upcoming knockout stages. This area of improvement will be crucial if they aim to progress further in the tournament and challenge for the title.
