June 01, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Falconets delivered a commanding performance, securing a spot in the final of the 2023 WAFU B Under-20 Girls Cup of Nations with a convincing 3-0 victory over Benin at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Prior to the semifinal clash, the Falconets had showcased their dominance by winning all three games in Ghana, scoring an impressive 16 goals and conceding none. Their stellar performance made them the clear favourites to claim their first title of the year.
Benin, however, aimed to create an upset similar to their Group A triumph over Ivory Coast last week. The Nigerian team, led by their formidable players, had other plans. In the 24th minute, Amina Bello made an impressive drive through Benin’s defence, finding the back of the net to open the scoring.
Despite encountering a well-organised Beninoise defence, the Falconets remained relentless. Flourish Sabastine’s skilful play troubled the opponents, and in the 33rd minute, her effort resulted in a foul inside the danger area, leading to a penalty kick. Stepping up confidently, Esther Onyenezide calmly converted the penalty, doubling the Falconets’ lead.
The Nigerian team continued to dominate proceedings, extending their advantage to three-nil in the 60th minute. Onyenezide showed more evidence of her exceptional skills as she evaded two defenders before elegantly slotting the ball into the net for her fourth goal of the tournament. Although the Falconets had additional opportunities to increase the scoreline, they ultimately secured a well-deserved and convincing victory when the final whistle echoed through the stadium.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
