Kparobo Arierhi scored both goals on Wednesday night as the Flying Eagles defeated Ghana 2-1 in the WAFU B U-20 Championship final to successfully defend their title in Lome, Togo.
Arierhi struck first for the dominant Flying Eagles in the 34th minute, receiving a pass on the edge of the box and scoring with a left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
The second goal was more spectacular. The Flying Eagles won the ball halfway into the Satellites’ area, and a couple of passes left Arierhi one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
The Beyong Limits striker unleashed a right-footed shot right into the roof of the net.
On the hour, Nigeria had to clear their lines as the Black Satellites, in a rare onslaught, picked the pockets of several defenders and got the ball past goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt.
Five minutes later, the Flying Eagles again escaped through good defending as a flurry of shots from inside and outside the box simply failed to get the ball beyond Harcourt.
The pressure finally paid off for the Ghanaians in the 74th minute, as they reduced the tally following a goalmouth scramble.
However, the Flying Eagles held on to retain their trophy won two years ago in Niger Republic, and with Arierhi claiming the Man-of-the-Match award.
Nigeria and Ghana will represent WAFU B at next year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations scheduled for South Africa.
