Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Monday evening failed to get past The Gambia in their semifinals game at the Cairo International Stadium as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to miss the chance to gun for an 8th African Cup of Nations title at the U-20 category.
Ladan Bosso’s team had reached the ‘last four’ of the tournament after the win over Uganda in the quarterfinals.
Nigeria will now slug it out with Tunisia for third-place Friday, while Gambia battle Senegal for the championship the following day.
A seventh minute defensive lapse let in Adama Bojang to score the match winner.
Nigeria had a chance to draw level when VAR awarded them a penalty after striker Ahmed Abdullahi was fouled by the goalkeeper on his way to goal.
However, Abdullahi crashed the penalty against the post.
Nigeria enjoyed more of the possession, but they failed to create clear-cut chances even when their opponents preferred to sit back in their defence.
Flying Eagles vs Gambia (4-3-3)Chijioke Aniagboso – Solomon Agbalaka, Benjamin Frederick, Daniel Bameyi (Captain), Abel Ogwuche – Onuche Ogbelu, Mohammed Aminu, Samson Lawal – Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Beji’ (Olamilekan Adams 77), Francis Ayuba (Ahmed Abdullahi 55), Haliru Sarki (Jude Sunday 55)