WAFU tourney: Ivory Coast beat Eaglets 3-2 in thrilling final
Ebenezer Bajela
Ivory Coast defeated defending champions Nigeria 3-2 to win the West African Football Union B tournament at the Stade de Kégué, Togo on Monday.
Sindou Kone, Abdrumane Konate and Seydou Traore gave the Baby Elephants a three-goal lead before two late goals from substitute Ahmed Abdulahi ensured a nervy finish for the Ivorians in Lome.
Ivory Coast, who had defeated the Golden Eaglets 1-0 in the group stage of the championship, started the game on the front foot and were by far the better side of the teams from the kick-off.
Nigeria then secured a draw against Ghana in their second game in the competition and managed to reach the semi-finals of the tournament after results from other games favoured them.
The Golden Eaglets secured a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the semi-final to advance into the final and subsequently qualified for the 2021 U17 Africa Cup of Nations which will take place in Morocco.
Nigeria, however, failed in the last hurdle after narrowly losing to the Young Elephants in the Wafu final at Stade de Kegue.
Sindou ignited the surge of goals with a fine strike when he beat goalkeeper Destiny Emuwahem to put Ivory Coast in front in the 15th minute.