The Nigerian U20 national team, known as the Falconets, displayed their superior strength against the Beninoise squad in an exhilarating match.
The Beninoise team, unable to match the Nigerian firepower, crumbled in front of their opponents, who had previously reached the World Cup final. Esther Onyenezide's outstanding performance, with a brilliant double, inspired the Falconets to a resounding 3-0 victory over Benin at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Wednesday evening. This win secured their place in the final of the 2023 WAFU B U20 Girls Cup of Nations.
Heading into the semifinal clash, the Falconets had been the most impressive team of the tournament, winning all three of their games in Ghana, scoring 16 goals and conceding none. It was evident that they were the overwhelming favorites to defeat Benin and take a significant step towards claiming their first title of 2023.
Despite Benin's hopes for an upset win over the Nigerians, similar to their victory over Ivory Coast in Group A last week, the Falconets showed no mercy. In the 24th minute, Amina Bello penetrated Benin's defense and unleashed a powerful shot past the goalkeeper, opening the scoring. Although Esther Ajakaye, arguably the standout player of the tournament, struggled against her Beninoise markers, Flourish Sabastine enjoyed teasing the opponents. In the 33rd minute, Sabastine drew a foul in the dangerous area, resulting in a penalty kick.
Confidently stepping forward, Esther Onyenezide converted the penalty brilliantly, doubling the Falconets' lead. The Nigerian team continued their dominance in the second half, and in the 60th minute, they extended their advantage to three goals. Onyenezide embarked on a solo run, skillfully evading two defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the net, securing her fourth goal of the tournament. Although the Nigerian girls had further chances to increase the scoreline, they were unable to find the finishing touch. Nevertheless, when the final whistle blew, the Falconets had done enough to claim a well-deserved and convincing victory.
With this win, Nigeria advances to the final of the WAFU B U20 Girls Cup, where they will face Ghana. In the other semifinal, Ghana defeated Burkina Faso 3-1, securing their place in Sunday's final.
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