Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will on Monday, May 12 slug it out with the defending champions Senegal in the quarter-final stage at the ongoing CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Senegal sealed a tense 2-0 win over DR Congo to finish second in their group and set up a high-stakes clash with Nigeria in the last eight. Goals from Cheikh Thiam and Ibrahima Dieng ensured the Young Teranga Lions edged past DR Congo on goal difference, keeping their title defence alive.
Nigeria, who finished second in Group B with five points after drawing 2-2 with Kenya in their final group match, now face one of the tournament’s most formidable teams.
Senegal’s win, coupled with Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Central African Republic, confirmed the standings in Group C, with Ghana finishing top on seven points and Senegal second with four.
The quarter-final meeting between Nigeria and Senegal promises to be one of the tournament’s standout fixtures.
While the Flying Eagles boast a rich history with seven U20 AFCON titles, they now face a team with recent pedigree and strong momentum.
Both sides come into the tie unbeaten in their last two matches. Nigeria showed resilience against Kenya, twice coming from behind, while Senegal proved clinical under pressure against a spirited DR Congo side.
