Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations with a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout win over Senegal, Footynaija.com reports.
The match, played on May 12 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, ended 0-0 after extra time before Nigeria held their nerve from the spot. It was a performance that guaranteed not only a semi-final slot but also a ticket to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Here are five takeaways from the showdown between two West African giants:
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1. Harcourt Delivers When it Matters Most
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was the standout performer today. The young shot-stopper kept Senegal out for 120 minutes and came up big in the shootout, saving one of the penalties.
2. Composure in Shootout
While shootouts can go either way, the Flying Eagles showed impressive mental strength. Precious Benjamin, Emmanuel Chukwu, and Israel Ayuma all found the net, while Senegal struggled.
Only Seydi Diouck converted for the defending champions, with one effort smashing the crossbar and two others denied by Harcourt.
3. Nigeria is Heading to the World Cup
The victory confirmed Nigeria’s place in the semi-finals and guaranteed qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year. As pointed out by CAF, it also extends Nigeria’s unbeaten run in U-20 AFCON quarter-finals under the current format to eight consecutive wins.
4. Senegal Contained from Start to Finish
Aliyu Zubairu’s tactical set-up kept Senegal at bay for the full 120 minutes. The defending champions had scored six goals in the group stage but were completely shut out in Ismailia.
The Flying Eagles were compact, alert, and did not allow Senegal to dictate the tempo. This is different from their last group game against Kenya.
5. Aliyu Zubairu’s Side Showed Maturity
Coach Aliyu Zubairu deserves credit for keeping his squad focused and tactically disciplined. From their calm passing in midfield to positional awareness at the back, Nigeria looked like a team that had been groomed for the big stage.
This performance was more about grit and intelligence than flair, and it showed that this Flying Eagles group is ready for the challenges ahead. They are now just one win away from a potential shot at the nation’s eighth U-20 AFCON title.
