Nigeria and Kenya performed out an exciting 2-2 draw of their ultimate Group B match on the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Soccernet.ng studies.
The Flying Eagles twice went behind however fought again by targets from Kparobo Arierhi and captain Daniel Bameyi.
With the draw, Nigeria end as Group B runners-up behind Morocco, who claimed a formidable 3-1 win over Tunisia.
Nigeria vs Kenya: The way it occurred
First Half
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu made three modifications to the facet that drew goalless with Morocco, handing begins to Simon Cletus, Kparobo Arierhi and Ezekiel Kpangu instead of Bidemi Amole, Treasured Benjamin, and Divine Oliseh.
Nevertheless, it was Kenya who struck first. Within the sixth minute, VAR noticed a handball by centre-back Chukwu, who had blocked a goalbound shot along with his arm simply contained in the field.
Rising Stars captain Kévin Wangaya made no mistake from the penalty spot, sending goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt the fallacious option to give the East Africans an early lead — their third consecutive recreation scoring first.
It was the primary purpose Nigeria had conceded on the 2025 U20 AFCON in Egypt, having saved clear sheets of their earlier matches in opposition to Tunisia and Morocco.
Regardless of the setback, the Flying Eagles responded nicely and had been stage simply seven minutes later. Cletus performed a intelligent through-ball into the trail of Arierhi, and the Norway-based striker rounded the goalkeeper expertly earlier than slotting the ball into the online.
Arierhi nearly doubled his tally moments later, however his header was nicely saved by Kenya’s alert goalkeeper, Wycliford Oduor.
Nigeria had been starting to dominate possession, however Kenya confirmed flashes of high quality in assault. Playmaker Aldrine Kibet examined Harcourt with a fierce long-range strike, forcing the Nigerian keeper right into a full-stretch save.
On the different finish, Jephta got here agonisingly near scoring Nigeria’s second, however his curling effort in the direction of the highest nook did not dip in time.
The Flying Eagles had been committing males ahead searching for a second purpose, which left area on the again for Kenya to take advantage of. Nevertheless, the Rising Stars could not capitalise. Regardless of either side taking part in enterprising soccer, clear-cut possibilities had been few and much between, with Nigeria having the slight edge.
Credit score goes to Nigerian defenders Odinaka Okoro and Daniel Bameyi, who stayed sharp and managed to maintain Kenya’s harmful forwards in verify.
Nigeria had the ultimate alternative of the half when Arierhi laid the ball off for Kpangu, however his tame strike was simply gathered by Oduor.
By halftime, information filtered in that Morocco had taken a 1-0 lead over Tunisia — a consequence that provisionally pushed the Atlas Cubs to the highest of Group B, with Nigeria second and Tunisia slipping to 3rd.
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Second half
Nigeria started the second half on the entrance foot, with Isaac Ayuma firing a fierce shot from outdoors the field that sailed simply over the bar within the opening minutes.
Moments later, as information filtered in that Tunisia had equalised within the different Group B match, Kparobo Arierhi got here near giving Nigeria the lead. Nevertheless, the striker might solely direct his effort straight on the goalkeeper when nicely positioned.
The Flying Eagles continued to press, dominating possession and probing for weaknesses within the Kenyan defence. Regardless of their management, clear-cut possibilities remained scarce.
Looking for to inject recent power, coach Aliyu Zubairu launched Olamilekan Alabi and Rickson Mendos instead of Auwal Ibrahim and Ezekiel Kpangu.
Simply after the hour mark, Daniel Bameyi got here to Nigeria’s rescue, intervening brilliantly to divert a harmful Kenyan transfer out for a nook, stopping what regarded like a sure purpose.
However the warning indicators weren’t heeded.
Within the 67th minute, Kenya restored their lead by William Gitama Mwangi, who met an excellent Humphrey Obina free-kick with a strong end that crashed in off the crossbar — a purpose worthy of the event.
Having saved two clear sheets earlier within the match, Nigeria had now conceded from each a penalty and a set piece.
The Kenyan pleasure was short-lived, although.
Simply 5 minutes later, Nigeria had been awarded a penalty after substitute Rickson was introduced down within the field. Captain Bameyi stepped up and calmly despatched Wycliford Oduor the fallacious method to attract the Flying Eagles stage once more.
Tahir Maigana and Divine Oliseh entered the fray within the seventy fifth minute, with Oliseh rapidly making his presence felt by testing the Kenyan goalkeeper with a low drive.
Nigeria pushed for a winner and had the sport’s ultimate huge likelihood, however Oliseh blazed over from shut vary after being neatly arrange by Arierhi.
On the ultimate whistle, Nigeria appeared the extra annoyed of the 2 sides, whereas Kenya celebrated claiming their first-ever level in U20 AFCON historical past.
What Subsequent?
The draw means Nigeria end as runners-up in Group B, behind Morocco who defeated Tunisia 3-1.
In line with the CAF schedule, the Group B runners-up will face the second-placed group in Group C.
Heading into the ultimate spherical of fixtures, DR Congo lead Group C with 4 factors, adopted intently by Ghana, who’ve the identical variety of factors however an inferior purpose distinction. Defending champions Senegal and the Central African Republic sit on the backside with a degree apiece.
On Might 8, Senegal will tackle DR Congo, whereas Ghana face the Central African Republic — matches that may decide Nigeria’s subsequent opponents within the quarter-finals.