Ghana and Benin battle to draw as Togo, Niger split points in WAFU B U20 qualifiers

Togo and Niger began their U20 AFCON qualifying campaigns with an electrifying 2-2 draw in their WAFU B opener at the Stade Kegue in Lome on Thursday.

The Young Sparrowhawks of Togo had to come from behind twice to secure a vital point in front of their home fans on a night of intense end-to-end football.

The match started brightly for Niger, who took the lead in the 15th minute.

Salifou Dandja capitalized on a swift counterattack, breaking through the right wing before calmly slotting past the Togolese goalkeeper to silence the local crowd.

The early goal stunned Togo, who then found themselves chasing the game. Despite a spirited response, the hosts were repeatedly denied by Niger’s goalkeeper, who produced a string of impressive saves to keep his side ahead going into halftime.

The second half continued at a frenetic pace. Togo’s persistence finally paid off in the 52nd minute when Yves Bamboulin Kolani found the back of the net, much to the delight of the home supporters.

 

 

Kolani’s strike, a well-placed finish from inside the box, brought Togo level and set up a thrilling contest.

Niger, however, wasted no time in restoring their lead. Just three minutes later, Abdoul Latif Diori converted a penalty after a clumsy foul by a Togolese defender.

At 2-1, it seemed Niger might be on their way to a crucial opening-day win, but Togo had other plans. Aminou Tchadjobo struck in the 73rd minute, latching onto a loose ball in the box to draw the hosts level once more.

The match ended 2-2, with both sides ruing their missed opportunities, particularly in the first half, where both sides could have taken control.

Meanwhile, in the other Group A fixture, Benin and Ghana also played out an exciting 2-2 draw.

The match saw Ghana take an early lead through Jerry Afriyie in the 14th minute, thanks to a composed finish following a well-crafted build-up play.

However, Benin fought back resiliently. Modeste Kounoudji equalized with a header from a Gabriel Moulero free kick in the 26th minute, and just before the break, Moulero struck again, this time beating Ghana’s keeper with a shot to give Benin a 2-1 advantage at halftime.

 

 

The second half was a display of attacking football from both sides. Ghana pushed for an equalizer, and despite hitting the crossbar through Musibau Aziz, it seemed Benin would hold on for the win.

However, in added time, a defensive lapse from Benin led to a penalty, and Afriyie stepped up to convert, completing his brace and rescuing a point for Ghana.

After the first round of matches, all teams in Group A are level with one point each, setting up a competitive and unpredictable race for qualification in the Wafu B qualifier for the 2025 U20 AFCON.