WAFU U-20: Cote d’Ivoire Hold Flying Eagles To 1-1 Draw

Cote d’Ivoire U-20 team forced Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in
the 2020 WAFU B U-20 Cup of Nations group B game at the Stade
Charles de Gaulles.

Ousmane Traore’s stoppage-time strike earned the Baby Elephants
a share of the spoils in Port Novo, Benin Republic.

In a keenly contested game, the Flying Eagles put up a very
determined performance despite the red card picked up by a
defender, ChristopherNwaeze. Nwaeze’s goal put Ladan Bosso side on
course for an opening Group B win, but the young Ivorians secured a
late consolation goal.

Both sides created chances in an entertaining first half, with
Peter Olawale and Nwaeze coming close for Nigeria. The contest
continued was evenly balanced in the opening 45 minutes, although
Nigeria was having more joy in cutting out Cote d’Ivoire
attacks.

The curtain raiser eventually arrived on the hour mark. Crafty
forward Wisdom Ubani sent an excellent delivery to the box and
Nwaeze showed gratitude with a brilliant header beyond the
keeper.

The Flying Eagles were in complete control of the game until
Nwaeze received a red card for a second bookable offence in the
71st minute of the encounter.

Despite playing with a man down, the determined Flying Eagles
maintained their discipline and tactical awareness. But, in the
first minute of added time, Traoré struck the equaliser and it
ended 1-1 in Port Novo.

The Ladan Bosso wards showed great strength in the opening game
and will be looking at positives ahead of the clash with Ghana. The
tournament in the Benin Republic will serve as qualifiers for the
2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Mauritania, which will, in turn,
determine Africa’s representatives for the 2021 Fifa U20 World Cup
in Indonesia.

The Flying Eagles who are in Group B will continue their
campaign against Ghana’s Black Satellites on Wednesday at the Stade
Charles de Gaulles in Porto Novo.

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