Coach Manu Garba’s side will slug it out with the hosts for their seventh trophy in Sunday’s African U20 Championship final
Nigeria U20 team will face hosts Senegal in the final of the 2015 African Youth Championship billed for the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar on Sunday.
The Flying Eagles dimmed the Black Satellites 2-0 in the first semi final while Senegal upstaged pre tournament favorites Mali 2-1 in a thrilling last four encounter on Thursday.
A brace from Moussa Kone got Les Lionceaux past the Eaglets whose consolatory strike was gotten by Alassane Diallo.
Manu Garba’s side had defeated the hosts 3-1 in the competition’s opening game with Taiwo Awoniyi netting a double. Ghana will face Mali in the third place match billed for the same Stadium.
It was the first time a Senegalese team had reached the final of a major continental championship since 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali, where the Teranga Lions lost to Cameroon on penalties.
Manu Garba’s side have reached their ninth final of the African Youth Championship after subduing Sellas Tetteh’s lads in the semi final on Wednesday evening.
Obinna Nwobodo’s first half header and captain Musa Muhammed’s second half penalty ensured the Flying Eagles caged the Black Satellites who came to the game with the intention of avenging their defeat to Manu’s team during the build up to the tournament.
It was Ghana who had the first chance of the game as Yaw Yeboah’s freekick was palmed away by impressive Joshua Enaholo.
The Black Satellites remained in charge till Nigeria got the lead through Nwobodo in the 22nd minute. Ifeanyi Matthew’s corner kick met the head of Obinna, and the ball hit the post before ricocheting off the goalkeeper into the net for the opener.
The Flying Eagles almost got the second goal immediately as Taiwo Awoniyi failed to convert a very glaring chance.
Goalkeeper Enaholo came to the rescue on 39 minutes by saving Aboagye’s goal-bound shot after Tetteh had headed his way inside the Nigeria penalty area.
Just before the break, Ifeanyi was unlucky to see his curling free-kick miss target by inches as his team went into recess with the narrow lead.
On resumption of the second half, the Satellites attacked in numbers with Aboagye, Yeboah and Tetteh all having shots at goal but Enaholo was at his best.
However, Muhammed deflated the Ghanaian challenge when he converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute past goalkeeper Michael Sai after Patrick Asmah fell Ifeanyi on the edge of the box.
Nigeria will now face the winner between Mali and Senegal in the second semi final game billed for Sunday at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor.
