Untold Snippets: How Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Thrashed Ghana To Defend WAFU Cup

Slippery forward Kparobo Arierhi was the hero of the night, scoring twice to lead the Flying Eagles to a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Ghana, as Nigeria successfully defended their WAFU U20 title in Lome on Wednesday night.

In a match that swung between the two halves, Nigeria controlled the game early on, dominating proceedings in the first half, while the Black Satellites fought back fiercely after the break. Despite Ghana’s resurgence, Nigeria’s early brilliance and resolute defending ensured their triumph.

Ghana threatened early in the game, forcing a clever save from Flying Eagles’ goalkeeper Harcourt in the 14th minute. The Ghanaians broke through with a cross and a header, but Harcourt was alert, palming down the ball to keep the game level. His quick reflexes were on display again in stoppage time as he punched away a close-range effort from the Satellites, who were pressing for an equalizer.

However, it was Nigeria’s forward Kparobo Arierhi who stole the show. He broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, calmly slotting home a pass from the edge of the box with a precise left-footed finish into the bottom corner, leaving the Ghanaian goalkeeper helpless on the ground.

Arierhi’s second goal was even more impressive. The Nigerian side seized possession deep in Ghana’s half, and after a series of quick passes, Arierhi found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful right-footed strike into the roof of the net, doubling Nigeria’s lead.

Ghana turned up the heat in the second half, pinning Nigeria back with sustained pressure. The Flying Eagles’ defenders were forced into a series of last-ditch clearances and desperate blocks to preserve their lead. The Black Satellites eventually broke through in the 74th minute, scoring from a chaotic goalmouth scramble to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

Despite the late push from Ghana, the Flying Eagles held their ground, fending off a barrage of attacks to secure their victory and lift the WAFU U20 trophy for the second consecutive time. Kparobo Arierhi’s standout performance earned him the Man-of-the-Match award, adding to his impressive tally in the tournament.

Both Nigeria and Ghana have secured their places at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations, set to be hosted by South Africa next year. For the Flying Eagles, it was a well-deserved victory, cementing their dominance in the region and boosting their confidence ahead of the continental tournament.
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