Nigeria Made It to Seven Times AYC Title

Nigeria won the African Youth Championship for the seventh time to break record in the tournament after beating hosts Senegal 1-0 in the final of the 2015 edition at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar on Sunday, 22nd March, 2015. The two sides met for the second time in the competition after the Flying Eagles had beaten the Young Lions 3-1 at the group stage where Nigeria topped the group and forged ahead to the semi-finals.


It was a keenly contested game, with the Senegalese eager to make their mark on home soil but it was Manu Garba’s men who were decisive enough to clinch gold. A lone goal from Bernard Bulbwa handed the Nigerians their fifth win of the tournament. Coach Manu Garba named the same side which defeated Ghana 2-0 in the semi-finals with all players retaining their starting roles. It was a tale of missed chances for the Senegalese, who were prowling for their first continental title from the first blast of the whistle till the end which rendered the Nigerian goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo the most busiest of the two goal-keepers on the pitch throughout the match.

The awards winning player of the tournament from Nigeria’s side was captain Musa Muhammed who won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Highest Goal Scorer with four goals.

Meanwhile, the first four winners of the tournament (Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Mali) will represent Africa in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand from 30th May – 20th June, 2015. Nigeria will play in Group E as African champions along with Brazil, North Korea and Hungary, while Senegal will play in Group D along with Mexico, Uruguay and Serbia. Third placed Ghana, who defeated Mali 3-1 in the losers’ final, will play in Group B along with Argentina, Panama and Austria and Mali will play in Group C.