Breaking: Flying Eagles stun Senegal, soar into AFCON Semi-Finals, hit World Cup

Flying Eagles

Flying Eagles against Senegal

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have advanced to the semi-finals of the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt after edging past Senegal 3-1 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Monday.

The tightly contested quarter-final clash ended goalless after regulation time and extra time, forcing both teams into a penalty decider to determine who would progress to the last four and clinch automatic qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year.

Nigeria held their nerve from the spot, converting all three of their penalties, while Senegal faltered, managing to score only once out of four attempts.

The clinical display by the Flying Eagles ensured their place in the semi-finals and a coveted ticket to the global youth tournament.

Related News

Statistically, the Flying Eagles were the more dominant side throughout the encounter. They controlled 53% of the ball possession compared to Senegal’s 47%, and registered 15 total shots, surpassing Senegal’s 10 attempts.

Nigeria also led in attacking efficiency, recording seven shots on target against Senegal’s five, and creating one clear-cut scoring opportunity, while the Senegalese failed to generate any big chances.

The pressure mounted by the Flying Eagles was evident in set-piece situations, with the Nigerian side winning 13 corner kicks compared to Senegal’s seven.

With this hard-fought victory, Nigeria’s U-20 squad continues their impressive run in the tournament and will now look to build on their momentum in the semi-finals, where they aim to secure a record-extending title in the competition.

Load more