The Nigeria U-23 team emerged the champions of Africa for the first time yesterday following their 2-1 win over Algeria in the final of the second edition of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar.
Top goalscorer in the tournament, Oghenekaro Etebo scored a brace in the first half which proved to be enough to hand Nigeria the title.
The Algerians were given a way back into the game when Segun Oduduwa pushed the ball into his own net.
However they spurned a chance to level the scores in the second half when Nigerian keeper Emmanuel Daniel denied the Algerians from the spot.
Nigeria and Algeria will represent Africa at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where they will be joined by South Africa who defeated hosts Senegal in the third/fourth playoff game earlier in the day.
Nigeria’s forward Oghenekaro Etebo finished the tournament as the highest goal scorer with five goals in four games. All but one of his goals came from the penalty spot.
