Nigeria beat Benin to win the WAFU U-20 Cup

Nigeria's Flying Eagles will head into next year's U20 Africa Cup of Nations as the West African champions after beating Benin 3-1 in the final of the WAFU U20 tournament. 

The Flying Eagles had come through a group that had Ghana and Burkina Faso beating the Black Starlets 2-0 before playing a 2-2 draw against the Young Stallions. 

Ladan Bosso's men then defeated a stubborn Ivory Coast side 2-1 after extra time in the semi-final to set up a final date against Benin. 

Nigeria went into the game against Benin as the favourite, but they had to wait until the 40th-minute for the opener. The Flying Eagles took the lead courtesy of a penalty from Tolu Ojo. 

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The second half started the same way as the first, with the Bosso's men on the front foot. The Flying Eagles' dominance paid off when Ojo doubled their advantage with a brilliant effort in the 70th-minute. 

Ibrahim Muhammad completed an emphatic win for Nigeria in the 77th-minute with a brilliant effort from outside the box. Although Benin pulled one back late in the game, it only served as a consolation.

The result means Nigeria will go into the AFCON u20 championship next year as the West African Champions.  The result also serves as a redemption for Bosso, who was also in charge of the team that crashed out in the group stage in 2020. 

The Flying Eagles will now hope to secure a World Cup ticket by going all the way to the final at the U20 AFCON next year.