Nigeria Marches On as Harcourt, Ayuma, and Chukwu Deliver Cold-Blooded Execution
Date: 13 May 2025
Byline: IDNN Youth Football Desk
Ismailia, Egypt – Nigeria’s Flying Eagles advanced to the semi-finals of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and secured a place at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup after a heart-pounding 3-1 penalty shootout victory over defending champions Senegal on Monday.
It was a quarterfinal chess match filled with drama, tactical tension, and missed opportunities, but when it came to the spot kicks — Nigeria showed why they’re tournament royalty.
“We prepared for this moment. The boys stayed calm, stayed focused, and delivered,” said head coach Aliyu Zubairu.
Key Moments of the Match
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Full-Time Score: 0-0 (AET)
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Shootout Result: Nigeria 3 – 1 Senegal
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Scorers: Precious Benjamin, Emmanuel Chukwu, Israel Ayuma
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Senegal Misses: Dorival (saved), Mor Faye (saved), Konaté (hit bar)
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MVP: Goalkeeper Ebenezer Ifeanyi Harcourt — heroic under pressure
Tactical Breakdown
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Nigeria stuck to a disciplined 4-2-3-1, absorbing pressure and looking to strike on the counter.
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Substitutions like Precious Benjamin and Rickson Mendos added energy and intent in extra time.
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Senegal’s unbeaten knockout streak since 2017 ended as they cracked under the pressure of the shootout.
Nigeria’s Quarterfinal Legacy
| Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Senegal | ✅ Win (Pens) |
| 2023 | Uganda | ✅ 1-0 |
| 2019 | Mali | ✅ 1-0 |
| … | … | ✅ Record: 8-0 in QF |
What’s Next?
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Semi-final: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs South Africa 🇿🇦
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Date: Thursday, 15 May 2025
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Venue: Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
“Now we face South Africa. We’ve respected Senegal, and we’ll respect them too — but we’re not afraid,” Aliyu Zubairu declared.
IDNN Takeaway
In a match where heart, grit, and calm heads were needed, Nigeria didn’t blink. Their perfect quarterfinal record remains untouched. Their World Cup ticket is stamped. And the dream of an eighth U-20 AFCON title is very much alive.