The Syli Cadets of Guinea will face Cameroon in the final of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania after both won their semi-finals on penalties.
Guinea were 10-9 winners over Nigeria in a tense shoot-out after Nigeria’s David Oduko Ogaga missed his spot-kick at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The two teams had played out a goalless draw after 90 minutes before the match went straight to penalties.
The Syli Cadets dominated the first of Wednesday’s semi-finals but found goals hard to come by as Nigeria’s defenders stood firm.
Alsassime Bah and Momo Fanye Toure were Guinea’s key attackers, while the Golden Eaglets’ striker Wisdom Onyedikachi Ubani also had chances.
After their triumph, Guinea’s players celebrated the country’s first qualification for the U-17 Nations Cup final.
“This is a great day and we are making history,” said Guinea’s goalkeeper Stephen Sunday.
The Syli Cadets are now assured of U$5000 each which had been promised by their government if they reached the final.
Guinea finished third at the 1995, 2015 and 2017 editions of the U-17 finals.
In the day’s second semi-final, Cameroon beat Angola 4-3 on penalties after their semi-final had also ended goalless.
All four semi-finalists have qualified to represent Africa at the U-17 Fifa World Cup to take place in Brazil in November.
