By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria held Kenya to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship in Egypt, in their final Group B match.
With the result, the Nigerian team, also known as the Flying Eagles, finished second in the group with five points, two behind group leaders Morocco, who defeated Tunisia 3-1 in the other match of the pool. Nigeria will remain in Cairo for the quarter-finals, where they will face the second-placed team in Group A.
Group A is made up of hosts Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Tanzania.
Seven-time champions Nigeria will now make the trip to Ismailia for their quarter-final match on Monday, against the second-placed team in Group C. Group C comprises title-holders Senegal, bitter rivals Ghana, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya’s Rising Stars made the match difficult for the Flying Eagles, as Aliyu Zubairu’s wards had to come from behind twice to salvage the encounter.
Kevin Wangaya put the Rising Stars ahead after just five minutes, converting a penalty after a Nigerian defender handled the ball in the box.
Nigeria restored parity seven minutes later, as Kparobo Arierhi waltzed through the defence and placed the ball firmly beyond the reach of the opposition goalkeeper.
The East Africans regained the lead in the 68th minute, with the Flying Eagles’ defence ball-watching a free-kick from the left, allowing William to blast the ball past goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt from Lawrence’s in-swinger.
Five minutes later, Nigeria were level again, as captain Daniel Bameyi sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot after substitute Mendos Rickson was upended in the box.
The Flying Eagles’ quarter-final match on Monday will be the first of the round, kicking off at 3pm Egypt time (1pm Nigeria time) in Ismailia.
