Goalkeeper Rufai Abubakar was the hero of the shootout as the Nigeria U20 team claimed bragging rights over Egypt in the third-place match at the U20 AFCON on Sunday afternoon.
The goalkeeping department of the Flying Eagles continued its heroics in the bronze medal match, after performing in the quarterfinals against Senegal last week.
As it happened
Aliyu Zubairu’s side had hoped to bounce back from the semifinal setback to South Africa when they faced Egypt in Sunday’s third-place playoffs.
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However, they young Pharaohs took the lead in the first half after a lapse in defense by the the young Eagles.
Substitute Bidemi Amole equalized in the second half, with Nigeria’s fourth goal of the entire competition.
Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Waheb denied the Flying Eagles attackers with stunning saves as the game went on deadlocked.
With penalty shootout approaching, goalkeeper Abubakar was called upon to replace Yakub in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
It would prove to be a genius move as Abubakar saved twice in the ensuing shootout, while Nigeria scored all four of their kicks to come out victorious.
The win meant the Flying Eagles won back-to-back bronze medals at the U20 African Cup of Nations, after also finishing third in 2023.
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What next for Nigeria?
The Flying Eagles will represent the continent at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year, after booking their spot with the quarterfinal win over Senegal.
After failing to add to their seven Afcon championships, attention will be turned to Chile where Nigeria will hope to improve on their best-ever finish at the world stage, with two silver medals in 1989 and 2005.
The draw for the competition is expected to hold later in June.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
