Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have qualified for yhe quarter-finals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-2 draw with Kenya in their final Group B game on Wednesday.
Striker Kparobo Arierhi and captain Daniel Bameyi were the scorers for the Flying Eagles.
The result means the Flying Eagles finish in second place on five points in the group behind Morocco.
The Moroccans topped the group with seven points after defeating fellow North Africans Tunisia 3-1 in the other game also played on Wednesday.
Tunisia with three points, will now have to wait and hope they will be among one of the best third-placed teams.
Kenya, who went into the game on the back of two defeats, took a shock lead in the sixth minute after Kevin Injehu scored from the penalty spot.
But in the 13th minute Arierhi equalised for the Flying Eagles, as he ran on to a pass inside the box and slotted past the Kenyan keeper who had rushed off his line.
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Just four minutes after leveling the score Arierhi almost got his second goal but was denied by the opposition keeper.
In the 20th minute it was the Kenyans who almost got on the score sheet again but Flying Eagles keeper Ebenezer Harcourt made a good save.
The Flying Eagles had an attempt to take the lead on 25 minutes but Clinton Jephta’s effort from the edge of the box missed the target.
In the third minute of added time Ezekiel Kpangu hit a low shot which saw the Kenyan keeper getting down well to gather.
Five minutes into the second half the Kenyans almost profited from a break away but Odinaka Okoro cleared the danger.
A minute later Israel Ayuma hit a long range strike which went just over the bar.
Arierhi also tried a shot on 57 minutes inside the box but the keeper easily stopped the strike.
In the 66th minute Bameyi made a brilliant clearance off a cross to deny a Kenyan player from getting an easy tap in.
In the 68th minute Kenya went 2-1 ahead as William Gitama stabbed home a set piece at the far post.
But on 72 minutes Bameyi equalised from the penalty spot after a Flying Eagles player was brought down inside the box.
With 11 minutes left to play substitute Divine Oliseh tried a low shot which the keeper easily saved.
Also in the 92nd minute Oliseh was presented with a big chance inside the box off a brilliant low cross but he blased his effort over the bar.
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
Kenya surprised me in this tournament. They scored first against all the other 3 teams and all were brilliant goals – 2 against both Nigeria and Morocco.
Interestingly, they scored a total of 5 goals against Nigeria’s 3 goals, and yet finished bottom of the group while Nigeria scaled through as group runners up with 5 points. Football can be quite ironic.
There’s just a very thin line in terms of quality of teams in this tournament and Nigeria, though have been gritty with pockets of brilliance here and there, have not been spectacular.
I saw SA destroyed their group leaders Sierra Leone 4-1, scoring with ease, and Kenya playing with so much flair upfront like Nigeria’s U20 of old. Ghana pipped defending champions Senegal 1-0 to earn a lifeline for qualification.
The Flying Eagles could qualify for the WC but I’ll be surprised if they win this tournament. Even the 0-0 draw with Morocco was more a relief for us than them.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria qualified for quarter-finals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after a match played at hellzapoppin pace against Kenya ended in a 2-2 draw this week.
They showed character to come back from adversity twice to grind out this draw. At some point, the Flying Eagles were staring down the gun barrell of defeat.
However, striker Kparobo Arierhi and captain Daniel Bameyi were the scorers with much kudos to the rest of the team for holding firm.
Well, the quality of their game was bad. But for me, it fell into that category of “so bad it’s good”.
I have, by far, watched higher quality, technically coated, intricate and
tactical football at U-20 level. This match was like watching bitter secondary school rivals slugging it out Principal’s Cup or Inter-house Sports football among teams in the same secondary school.
However, it is the highest quality, hugely entertaining and supremely enjoyable secondary school-type football you are ever going to encounter.
The Flying Eagles were rattled by the pacy, physical and punchy Kenyan who left nothing on the field in their pursuit of victory.
Dare I say Kenya were the toughest opponents the Flying Eagles faced by far in this tournament evidenced by the 2 goals they conceded, having kept clean sheets against far tactically astute Tunisia and Morocco.
Yet, the dug deep, fought in the trenches, slugged it out in gruelling fashion to grap the point needed for quarter finals ticket.
The Flying Eagles play well. They remain physical, athletic and dogged. What I think they lack is football intelligence.
They are competent in the rudiments of football and they really play for each other with impeccable team spirit.
But this brand of football can only get you so far before the wheels fall off.
I think they can snap up one of the world cup tickets on offer. But, with a practice physical-education brand of football, they will likely only make up the numbers in the world cup.
For now, well done to the Flying Eagles. I enjoyed today’s match for the sheer grit and raw, unrefined approach which produced result needed for progression.
I’m happy that the match ended with a draw, but the truth must be told: Flying Eagles is not good enough.
I am not confident in this team. No pattern of play and clear cut.
Is this what we can present as our under-20 team? Hmmm. If yes then Nigeria is finished. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
This is what you get when you assemble mostly academy boys, this team is just poor. Do we even deserve to go to the world cup
You na complain too much. We are happy they have qualified. They will get better. It’s too early to talk about how they will not do well at the world cup if they quality. A lot fan change before then. For now let us celebrate them. They tried.