JUST IN: Flying Eagles Defeat Senegal on Penalties to Reach U-20 AFCON Semi-Finals, Qualify for World Cup

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are through to the semi-finals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Senegal on Monday night. The intense quarter-final clash at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, ended goalless after regulation and extra time, pushing the match into a decisive penalty round.

The Nigerian side held their nerve as goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt delivered a standout performance, making key saves that helped seal the win for Ladan Bosso’s team. With the victory, the Flying Eagles not only advanced to the tournament’s final four but also booked their place at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, as all semi-finalists automatically qualify for the global event.

Nigeria will face Gambia in the semi-final on Wednesday. The Gambian side caused an upset by defeating Tunisia 1-0 in their own quarter-final fixture. This sets the stage for a high-stakes encounter as Nigeria look to continue their push for an eighth U-20 AFCON title—the most in the tournament’s history.