AFCON U20: Senegal clinch semi-final spot after narrow win against Uganda

Nigeria qualified for the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations (U20 AFCON) after a narrow victory against Uganda on Thursday at the Suez Canal Stadium. The victory automatically meant a place at this year’s U20 World Cup in Indonesia.

The Flying Eagles passed the round of the quarter-finals courtesy an own goal from Ibrahim Juma in the 30th minute, enough to seal the game for Nigeria.

Like a diesel engine, Nigeria didn’t come flying out of the blocks in the competition when they began in group A, but the men of Landan Bosso are finding their feet in the course of the competition.

This qualification is Nigeria’s 13th in the history of this Under-20 World Cup. They reached the final in 1989 and 2005, ended third in 1985, played the quarter-finals in 1999, 2007 and 2011 and the round of 16 in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019.

The West Africans must now out winner of the quarter-final (tomorrow at 2 p.m. GMT) that will see South Sudan take on the Gambia at the Haras El Hodoud Stadium, in Alexandria.