Football enthusiasts have commended Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for retaining the WAFU B U-20 trophy after defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final on Wednesday in Lome, Togo.

A cross section of the Abuja fans who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews shortly after the match on Wednesday evening described the team’s performance as impressive.

Joseph Dauda, an entrepreneur described the Flying Eagles defeat of their regional rivals as an early Christmas gift for lovers of football.

He said that the situation in the country deserves such cheering news to calm the pressure of Nigerians exposed to economic hardship.

“Our boys played a great game tonight and the result of their efforts is emerging as champions.

“We are proud of the Flying Eagles for showing capacity throughout the competition,” he said.

Dauda who is an industrial welder and Managing Director of Joda Construction Works Limited, called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that the boys were duly rewarded.

Another football enthusiast, Sunday Okon said that the team should serve as a good reserve for Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles.

Okon, an Uber driver said that he was personally elated for their performance and resilience in the match adding that they played as a united team with good chemistry.

He said that ‘the boys made Nigerians happy and at least sleep and forget their sorrows temporarily’.

NAN reports that the Flying Eagles Slippery forward, Kparobo Arierhi’s goals help Nigeria retain the WAFU B U-20 trophy and maintain its regional bragging right.

Kparobo Arierhi scored the first goal in the 34thminute of the match when he received a pass on the edge of the box of the Black Satellites.

He again scored the second goal after receiving a couple of passes and he unleashed a right-footed rocket right into the roof of the net.

The pressure from the Black Satellites paid off for the Ghanaians in the 74thminute, as they reduced the tally following a goalmouth melee.

However, this did not stop the Flying Eagles from retaining their trophy won two years ago in Niger Republic.

NAN reports that Nigeria’s Kparobo Arierhi scooped the Man-of-the-Match award after the thrilling encounter.

Nigeria and Ghana will now represent WAFU B at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for January, 2025. (NAN)