Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have emphatically marched into the semi-finals of the ongoing WAFU B U20 Championship following a commanding 3-0 victory over Togo’s Sparrow Hawks on Thursday.
Building seamlessly on their impressive 4-2 opening-day triumph against Ghana’s Black Satellites, the Nigerian side showcased their tournament credentials once again with a ruthless second-half display.
A Stubborn First Half :
Despite the eventual scoreline, the Sparrow Hawks proved to be a stern test in the opening 45 minutes. While the Flying Eagles dictated much of the early possession, Togo remained dangerous on the break. The Nigerians were almost made to pay for a defensive lapse in the 38th minute, but Togo narrowly dragged a clear-cut opportunity wide of the post.
The closing stages of the first half evolved into an open, end-to-end affair. However, both defensive units held firm, sending the teams into the break locked in a tense, scoreless stalemate.
Adeleke Takes Control
The dynamic of the match shifted completely immediately after the restart. Just one minute into the second period, Muiz Adeleke—who also netted a brace against Ghana on Monday—broke the deadlock with a clinical finish to put Nigeria in the driving seat.
Unfazed by Togo’s desperate push for an equalizer, the Flying Eagles’ backline remained impenetrable, allowing their attackers to exploit the spaces left behind. In the 59th minute, Adeleke struck again. Launching a blistering counter-attack, the forward coolly rounded the Togolese goalkeeper and slotted the ball home to complete his second consecutive brace of the tournament.
Agbejoye Seals the Rout
Nigeria nearly made it three shortly after following an unforced error by the Togolese shot-stopper, but the opportunity went begging.
However, the icing on the cake finally arrived in the 85th minute. Abdoulaye Agbejoye , stepping onto the pitch as a substitute for the brilliant Adeleke, made an instant impact by finding the back of the net to seal a handsome 3-0 victory.
With their semi-final ticket now safely in the bag, the seven-time African champions will turn their attention to what promises to be an explosive encounter against Burkina Faso this Sunday.
