Connect with us

Sports

Flying Eagles lose to Mali on penalties, crash out of U-20 AFCON

Published

on

Flying Eagles

Flying Eagles of Nigeria battled their Malian counterparts in the semifinal of the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday.

The Eagles crashed out after a hard-fought game at the at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niger Republic, but will take solace in the fact that they secured a spot in the U-20 FIFA World Cup.

After a goalless first half, both teams continued to struggle in search of a goal, with Mali succeeding first.

Mali got ahead in the 78th minute through a Mamadou Traore goal, but the jubilation only lasted for a short period as Paschal Durugbor levelled for Nigeria four minutes from time.

Read Also: Anthony Joshua to fight Jarrell Miller in US on June 1

The game continued into extra time, and then into penalties, and Mali wom the day 4-3.

It waa El Bilal Toure who scored the decisive spot-kick for Mali after Aniekeme Okon missed his own kick for the Flying Eagles.

The win for the Junior Mena of Mali avenged their loss to Nigeria also on penalties at the U-20 WAFU Cup tournament in Lome, Togo last December.

Seven-time champions Nigeria have therefore fallen short in their race for an eight continental title as Mali advance to the final.

For the records, it is the first time Mali have reached the final of the competition.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now