Eagles engage Benin Squirrels for WAFU final spot

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles and their Republic of Benin opponents will battle at 3pm today (Thursday) battle for a final match berth of the ongoing 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations holding in Ghana. The other semi final is between hosts Ghana and Niger Republic, Extrasportsnigeria.com reports.
This brand of Eagles and the Beninese are quite familiar with each as it is the third time both countries are meeting in barely one month. Eagles overcame them for the ticket to the 2018 African Nations Championship in Kenya. Now, with the ticket to the final of the WAFU Cup at stake with $100,000 on the line for eventual winners of the tournament on Sunday, this evening’s semis in Cape Coast promises to be full of fireworks.
In the WAFU competition Benin upsets bookmakers’ calculations to top Group B with six points. They appear to have another chance to take their pound of flesh from the Nigerian team on a neutral ground. But this could be quite some tall dream for the Squirrels as many of the players in the Nigerian line up have seen action at much higher level than what is available in Ghana right now. Ikechukwu Ezenwa was in goal for Nigeria when the Eagles defeated reigning African champions Indomitable Lions 4-0 in Uyo and the return leg in Yaounde which ended 1-1.
Nigeria league top scorer, Anthony Okpotu, is reportedly looking to add to his goal tally after scoring both when they beat Ghana. The Lobi Stars striker scored 19 goals in the just concluded season.
In Ghana Nigeria looked set to return home from the group stage until they put up superb performance to beat Ghana 2-0 to qualify for the next stage. Now they are looking forward to sharing the $100,000 tournament prize money at stake if they walk away with the title on Sunday and it is doubtful in they would fall let go by falling Benin Republic today.