The final of the WAFU B U20 Championship has been confirmed.
The youth teams of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, who were also the finalists in the previous senior AFCON tournament, have advanced to the final of the youth competition.
This reflects the importance both nations place on football development at all levels.
Nigeria had a tough time in the semi-final against Niger. After a goalless 90 minutes, the match went to penalties.
The Flying Eagles held their nerve and triumphed 4-3 in the shootout to book their place in the final.
Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, came from behind to defeat Ghana. After conceding in the opening minutes, the Baby Elephants showed resilience and turned the game around to win 2-1.
Nigeria has shown strong performances against Côte d’Ivoire at youth level in recent years. They also won last year’s edition of the tournament, further cementing their reputation as a powerhouse in youth football.
As a result, Nigeria will enter the final as the favorites — but Côte d’Ivoire will be determined to take their revenge.