The Flying Eagles came painfully close—but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Nigeria’s U-20 team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2025 WAFU U-20 Boys Cup, played under the lights at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra on Wednesday night.
Both teams entered the clash unbeaten, with high hopes and heavy expectations. Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s boys were determined to defend their title, while the Ivorians had their sights set on a flawless finish.
The match itself was tense and gritty—less about flashy plays and more about who would blink first. Solid defending on both ends meant few real chances, and Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Ebenezer Harcourt, was a standout with several key saves that kept his side alive deep into the game.
But just when it looked like the night would go to penalties, a late moment of misfortune turned the tide. In the dying minutes—91st, to be exact—Ivory Coast sent in a routine free-kick. Harcourt, who had been brilliant up to that point, couldn’t keep hold of the ball. Zakaria Tindano was quickest to react, firing in the winner and sealing the title for the Young Elephants.
It was a cruel end for Nigeria, whose journey to the final had been marked by resilience and skill. Still, there’s no shame in falling short after such a hard-fought campaign.
Earlier in the day, the host nation gave their fans something to smile about. Ghana secured third place with a confident 2-0 win over Niger. Aziz Musibau was the star of the show—first converting a penalty in the 70th minute, then tapping in another after a smart assist from Kelvin Nkrumah just eight minutes later.
While it wasn’t Nigeria’s night, the Flying Eagles showed promise—and their story is far from over.
