By Nurudeen Obalola
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have secured a ticket to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup following their penalty shootout victory over defending champions Senegal in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
The U-20 AFCON quarter-final clash in Ismailia, Egypt ended 0-0 after extra-time, and the Flying Eagles won the penalty shootout 3-1.
Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was the Nigerian hero, saving two of Senegal’s four attempts, while they smashed the fourth one against the crossbar.
Having gone second in the shootout, the Flying Eagles converted all their three kicks to secure victory.
The seven-time African champions return to the FIFA U-20 World Cup two years after they reached the quarter-finals in Argentina.
The Flying Eagles defeated the hosts 2-0 in the round of 16 but their journey ended with a 1-0 extra-time defeat to South Korea in the quarter-finals.
This year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup will be hosted by Chile from September 27 to October 19.
The Flying Eagles have never won the tournament but were runners-up in 1989 and 2005, when Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to the title in the Netherlands.
