The Flying Eagles tonight retained the WAFU B U20 Cup they won two years ago when they defeated perennial rivals Ghana 2-1 at the Stade Kegue in Lome, Togo.
Both Nigeria and Ghana qualified for the 2025 U20 AFCON to be hosted by South Africa in January.
But in the fight for supremacy today, it was Nigeria who edged this Jollof Derby courtesy of a first half brace by 17-year-old striker Kparobo Arierhi.
They were two well-taken goals by the youngster.
The first was in the 34th minute, before he completed his brace two minutes to the interval.
He thus finished on three goals, same as Enyimba winger Clinton Jeptha.
The Flying Eagles deserved their lead as they took the game to their arch-rivals from the first whistle with Jephta coming close as early as the fifth minute into this encounter.
The Nigeria U20s used their fast wingers to stretch open the Ghanaian defence with Bidemi Amole enjoying his best game of the championship as his trickery and speed troubled the opponents again and again.
In the Flying Eagles defence, captain Daniel Bameyi, goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt and right back Adamu Maigari were outstanding
Ghana, cheered on by hundreds of their supporters from across the border, put up a spirited fight after the break and were rewarded with a goal after 73 minutes.
The Black Satellites created the better chances in the second half, but could not put them away.
Maigari cleared a goal-bound effort with goalkeeper Harcourt beaten and in the closing moments Ghana could not finish off another dangerous attack with the Flying Eagles back-four all at sea.
