Nigeria’s U20 national team played out a thrilling 2-2 draw against Burkina Faso, sealing passage to the semifinals of the WAFU B Championship in the Republic of Niger.
The Ladan Bosso-tutored Eagles defeated Ghana 2-0 on Sunday in their opening Group B match and knew a win over the young Stallions would see them advance to the next phase of the tournament.
And a win they almost got, thanks to Ibrahim Muhammad’s bizarre 24th minute goal and Ibrahim Yahaya’s second-half spot kick.
But twice the Burkinabe lads pegged them back as both settled for a share of the spoils.
Young attacker Muhammad opened the floodgates in the 24th minute, though.
The Nigerian forward was under the close watch of two Burkinabe defenders around the corner flag but he somehow managed to send a cross into the danger area and was himself stunned to see the ball deceive the goalkeeper and go in off the inside of the post.
Burkina Faso grew into the encounter and should have equalised just before the break but a brilliant reaction save by Nathaniel Nwosu kept out a headed effort from a corner.
Nwosu, however, conceded his first goal in Niamey after Abdel Rachid Zagré, following a clumsy Nigerian foul in the danger area, beat him from the penalty spot.
But ten minutes later, the Flying Eagles regained the lead also via a penalty kick, Ibrahim Yahaya stepping up to smash the ball past the opponent’s goalkeeper.
Some sloppy Flying Eagles defending, however, allowed Burkina Faso to equalise for the second time in the encounter denying the team the victory that would have guaranteed top spot in Group B.
Despite the draw, Nigeria are through to the semifinals and will secure top spot if Ghana avoid a defeat when they square up against Burkina Faso in the final group match on Saturday.
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