WAFU U-20 Cup: Ghana eliminated from tourney after defeat to Nigeria

Share this with Email Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Whatsapp

Black Satellites of Ghana have been eliminated from the ongoing WAFU U-20 tournament at the Stade Municipal in Lomé, Togo following their 4-2 loss to Nigeria on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Ghana are languishing at the bottom of the table with no points from two round of matches as they shockingly lost to Niger 1-0 in their Group B opener over the weekend.

The male U-20 national team needed a win to enhance their chances of qualifying to the next stage of the competition but they faced a difficult task against a Nigerian side who also needed a draw to progress.

Meanwhile, Niger had already booked their passage to the knockout rounds of the tournament after beating Benin and drawing with Nigeria.

The Flying Eagles staged a remarkable comeback after Emmanuel Toku shot coach Jimmy Corbblah’s lads in front on 28 minutes from a solo effort.

Nigeria leveled just a minute before halftime via Maxwell Michael strike. They took the lead for the first time in the 77th minute after they were awarded a penalty which was converted by Ibrahim Abubakar.

Advertisement

With 9 minutes from time, Wasiu Alade increased Nigeria's lead before Michael Effiom returned to turn in for his brace to make it 4-1.

Toku got another consolation for the Black Satellites with a sublime free-kick on the stroke of the final whistle.

Ghana used the tournament to prepare for the 2019 CAF U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger between 24 February and 10 March.

The top four teams will qualify as CAF’s representatives for the upcoming 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be staged in Poland in May.

Benin would have completed Group B but the young squirrels pulled out of the tournament before it commenced.