Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have emerged champions of the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship, defeating the Black Satellites of Ghana 2-1 in a thrilling final at the Stade Kegue in Lome, Togo, on Wednesday.
The Flying Eagles, defending their title from the last edition in Niger Republic, secured victory thanks to a stellar performance from Kparobo Arierhi, whose brace proved decisive.
Arierhi, who plays for Beyond Limit FC, opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 30th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the Ghanaian box.
He then doubled Nigeria’s lead just before halftime, driving the ball into the roof of the net following a precise pass.
Ghana managed to pull one back late in the match, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Nigeria from lifting the trophy.
This win also secured both Nigeria and Ghana’s place at the 2025 U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to be held in Kenya, Moore, and Tanzania.
Nigeria’s journey to the final included a 4-1 victory over Niger Republic in the semi-finals, showcasing the team’s dominance throughout the tournament.
Both Nigeria and Ghana will represent the WAFU B zone at the 2025 U-20 AFCON, which will also serve as the qualification pathway for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The four semi-finalists from the AFCON will automatically qualify for the global event.
