THE Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday defeated their Ghanaian counterparts in a semi-final match of the African Youth Championship (AYC) ongoing in Senegal.

By this result, Nigeria has now qualified to play in the final of the championship on Sunday. The Flying Eagles will meet the winner of the second semi-final between Mali and host Senegal at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar. The fixture holds today.

Obinna Nwobodo put Nigeria in front in the 23rd minute of the match off a corner kick taken by Ifeanyi Matthew.

Nwobodo’s glancing header had hit the upright before bouncing off to roll into the net. Nwobodo was eventually voted the Man of the Match.

Nigeria goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo, on several occasions, stood between the Ghanaians and goals. He remarkably came to his side’s rescue on 39 minutes saving Aboagye’s goal-bound shot after Benjamin Tetteh had headed his way inside the Nigeria penalty area.

The semi final match lived up to the billing of the final before final match as both sides gave a good account of themselves.

Captain Musa Muhammed would have made it 2-0 in the 44th minute but his kick went over the bar.

The Ghanaians kept the pressure on the Flying Eagles but the Manu Garba side was able to soak the pressure till the end of the first half.

Musa Muhammed was to double his side’s lead in the 70th minute of the match following a foul on Ifeanyi Matthew by the Ghana Starlets defender Patrick Asmah. The Flying Eagles captain has now scored four goals in the championship with all four coming from the penalty spot.

   The six-time winners of the AYC will now keep a date for the final with the winner between Mali and Senegal in the second semi final match billed for today.

The Flying Eagles had engaged Ghana in their build-up to the ongoing AYC. In the two matches played in Ghana, the first one ended in a draw while the Nigerians triumphed over their hosts.

Wednesday’s match also had in attendance the coach the senior national team of Ghana, Avram Grant.