Nigeria enjoyed double celebrations in age grade football competitions yesterday following wins by the country’s U20 men and women national teams.
The ladies kicked off proceedings in the West Africa Football Union WAFU Zone B Under 20 Women’s championship in Ghana with a resounding 3-0 win over their Beninois counterparts to qualify for the final of the competition.
Esther Onyenezide’s brace in both halves and a first half strike by Aminat Bello secured the win for the Falconets.
Mercy Kalu of Nigeria picked up the Woman Player Of the Game award for her sterling performance in the game against Benin Republic.
Nigeria will now face Ghana in the final on Saturday 3 June at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Shortly after the Falconets’ win in Ghana, the nation’s Under 20 boys the Flying Eagles pulled a shocker in the FIFA World Cup.
The Ladan Bosso’s boys, against all expectations, diamantled tournament favourites and hosts Argentina, 2-0, to soar into the quarter final of the competition.
Second-half goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Rilwanu Haliru Sarki stunned the hosts who banked so much on their coach and former FC Barcelona iconic defender, Javier Mascherano.
Nigeria’s breakthrough arrived in the 61st minute when Emmanuel Umeh flicked the ball over the top for Muhammad to stab it past goalkeeper Federico Gomes Gerth.
Argentina piled on the pressure in search of a leveller but Sarki’s late header off an assist by AC Milan midfielder Victor Eletu secured a famous triumph for the Eagles.
Nigeria will now face the Ecuador-Korea Republic winners in the quarter-finals in Santiago del Estero on Sunday.
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