Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike, Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, has extended his congratulations to the national Under-20 men’s football team, known as “The Flying Eagles,” for their victory in the WAFU Zone-B Under-20 championship on Wednesday night.
They triumphed over their Ghanaian rivals, “The Black Satellites,” with a score of 2-1 in Lome, Togo, successfully defending the title they claimed two years ago in Niamey, Niger Republic.
In a discussion with journalists at his residence in Ilorin shortly after the match, Agu-Ejidike praised the team, coached by Aliyu Zubairu, for their resilience.
Despite an initial setback in their opening match against “The Young Stallions” of Burkina Faso, which ended in a 0-1 loss, the team rebounded impressively, defeating “The Baby Elephants” of Côte d’Ivoire to secure the top position in their group and advance to the semi-finals.
In the semi-final, they faced “The Young Menas” of Niger Republic, overcoming them with a 3-1 victory, which also ensured their qualification for the AFCON Under-20 championship next year in South Africa, where they will compete for a spot in the World Cup in Chile.
The final match saw the Flying Eagles face their longstanding rivals, Ghana, and the defending champions once again rose to the challenge, winning 2-1.
Agu-Ejidike commended the players for their dedication and for upholding Nigeria’s esteemed reputation in the tournament.
He also recognized the coaching staff for their effective leadership and urged the team to maintain their focus as they prepare for the upcoming AFCON in South Africa, with the goal of securing a place in the World Cup in Chile.
