Nigeria's Flying Eagles are through to the final of the WAFU B U-20 Championship, edging past hosts Côte d'Ivoire 4-3 on penalties after a gripping semi-final that ended 2-2 following extra time.

Goalkeeper Lawani Clinton was the decisive figure in the shootout, producing two crucial saves to carry the Flying Eagles past a stubborn Ivorian side and into the showpiece match.

Côte d'Ivoire strike first

The hosts set the tempo from the opening whistle and were rewarded when they broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, taking a deserved lead in front of their own supporters.

Nigeria struggled to find a response before the interval, but the Flying Eagles regrouped at half-time and began to assert themselves after the restart.

Nigeria hit back through Simeon

The equaliser arrived in the 68th minute, when captain Habila Simeon rose to head home and level the tie. The goal was historic in its own small way — it was the first Nigeria had scored against a Côte d'Ivoire side that had kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Flying Eagles pushed for a winner and found one through Abubakar Aliyu, who netted in the first half of extra time to put Nigeria 2-1 ahead.

Late drama forces a shootout

The Ivorians, however, refused to concede defeat. They struck deep into added time to level at 2-2 and force a penalty shootout, shattering what had appeared to be a certain Nigerian passage to the final.

Simeon, the hero of normal time, missed Nigeria's second spot-kick and threatened to hand the advantage to Côte d'Ivoire. But Lawani refused to let his side fall — his two saves in the shootout were the difference, sending the Flying Eagles through 4-3 and into the WAFU B U-20 final.