By Victor Kanayo
Few days after playing out a draw against perennial rivals Ghana, Nigeria on Sunday evening lashed Benin Republic 4-1 in their group match at the ongoing WAFU B tournament.
This is as the Nigerian team produced a dominant comeback performance in Prampram, Ghana.
Despite falling behind in the first half, the defending champions bounced back in style, scoring four unanswered goals to secure a place in the semi-finals and reaffirm their status as title contenders.
Action Point
Benin Republic took the lead in the 26th minute through Modeste Kounoudji, who headed home from a well-placed free-kick.
The early goal unsettled the Flying Eagles, who struggled to find rhythm and penetration for much of the opening half.
However, Nigeria equalised in the 39th minute after Divine Oliseh threaded a precise pass to Mohammed Abdullahi, who calmly finished to bring the teams level.
The second half saw a rejuvenated Nigerian side take control. Just two minutes after the restart, Kparugu pounced on a loose ball in the box to put Nigeria ahead 2-1.
The momentum continued in Nigeria’s favour, and in the 65th minute, team captain Daniel Bameyi orchestrated a quick counter-attack, setting up Abdullahi for his second goal of the night.
Sealed Victory
Nigeria sealed the victory in the 78th minute when substitute Moses Simon delivered a pinpoint cross that was headed home for the final goal, completing a comprehensive 4-1 triumph.
The result confirms Nigeria’s place in the semi-final and brings them closer to qualifying for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations — a key route to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
