Sports
WAFU B U20 Tourney: Flying Eagles batter Sparrow Hawks 3-0 to seal final-four spot
Nigeria’s U20 national team, Flying Eagles, have booked their place in the semi-finals of the ongoing WAFU B U20 Tournament. They defeated Togo 3-0 in their second Group B game in Yamoussoukro on Thursday, carrying on the momentum from their 4-2 win over Ghana’s Black Satellites on the opening day.
Togo’s Sparrow Hawks came out strong and proved difficult in the first half. The Flying Eagles dominated early but were almost caught napping in the 38th minute when Togo missed a clear chance and shot wide. The game became open towards the end of the half with both sides launching onslaughts, but there was no breakthrough from either team.
The first half ended scoreless with both sides on equal possession. Nigeria came out stronger after the break and broke the deadlock early. One minute into the second period, Muiz Adeleke, who netted a brace against the Black Satellites on Monday, put the Flying Eagles ahead to make it 1-0. Togo pushed to get back into the game but Nigeria’s defence stood firm and the team maintained good control.
Adeleke got his second in the 59th minute. He went on a quick counter, rounded the Togolese goalkeeper and scored to complete his brace. Nigeria almost made it three shortly after when Togo’s goalkeeper made a mistake, but the opportunity was not utilised. However, the handsome win was sealed in the 85th minute when substitute Abdoulaye Agbejoye replaced Adeleke and immediately got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0. The Flying Eagles held on till the final whistle to secure the victory and a place in the semi-finals.
Seven-time African champions Nigeria face Burkina Faso on Sunday in what promises an explosive encounter.
South Africa defender Karabo Dhlamini has said it is important for Banyana Banyana to beat the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
Desiree Ellis’ side will face Nigeria in a play-in clash to earn a place in the inter-confederation play-offs following their failure to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Banyana Banyana’s ambition was thwarted after a 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash.
Dhlamini insisted that they must take advantage of the second chance to earn a place at the World Cup.
“The goal is still the same,” Karabo Dhlamini told ESPN, adding, “We’ll try our best to win the play-offs because we still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup.”
Thursday’s encounter will take place at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca. It will kick off at 9 pm Nigerian time.
Barcelona attacking midfielder, Fermin Lopez, has reacted to club captain Ronald Araujo’s move to Liverpool.
Lopez believes it’s a shame that Araujo had to leave Barcelona for the Premier League giants because he is a captain.
Liverpool on Monday signed the 27-year-old defender on a season-long loan deal.
Araujo was part of the Barcelona team that won the LaLiga last season, as he scored three goals in 24 games.
Speaking on Araujo’s move to the Reds, Lopez said (as per SPORT): “He has come to say goodbye.
“It’s a shame, because he is a captain and I have a good relationship with him. He made the decision to continue developing, and I hope he comes back next season.”
By Our Reporter with agency report
Francisca Ordega has blamed poor preparation for the Super Falcons’ ouster from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria failed to make it to the last four for the first time in the history of the competition following the Super Falcons’ 1-0 quarter-final defeat to the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
The West Africans started the competition with a 3-2 shocking defeat to debutants Scorchers of Malawi.
Justine Madugu’s side, however, bounced back with impressive wins against Zambia, and Malawi.
They were bundled out of the competition by Cameroon despite a spirited display.
Ordega told ESPN that the Super Falcons’ preparation for the tournament was not good enough.
When asked whether the team’s preparations were good enough, she said, “of course not. I think it’s something we really need to talk about.
“If you’re coming for a World Cup competition or qualification, you have to prepare because everyone is coming here [with the] World Cup as everyone’s target.”
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