Nigeria wins Seventh AYC Title

Nigeria became the first team to win the African Youth Championship for the seventh time after beating host Senegal 1-0 in the final of the 2015 edition at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar on Sunday.

It was the second time the two sides would meet in the competition after the Flying Eagles had beaten the Young Lions 3-1 at the group stage where Nigeria topped the group to head into the semi-finals.

Nigeria’s captain Musa Muhammed won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Highest Goal Scorer’s awards after he scored four goals.

A lone goal from Bernard Bulbwa handed the Nigerians their fifth win of the tournament.

It was a tale of missed chances for the Senegalese, who were searching for their first continental title. They attacked from the first blast of the whistle and almost went ahead in the fifth minute when goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo saved Malick Niang’s header from the first corner kick of the game.

Smiles reigned on the faces of all when in the 19th minute, Bulbwa right footed a shot from outside the penalty area into the top right corner of the Senegalese goal after a long ball from the defence.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will play in Group E of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand 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.