ALL AFRICAN GAMES FOOTBALL: BURKINA FASO, NIGERIA SET FOR FINAL

As it was in the beginning, so shall it be at the end. That is the setting of the men’s football event of the 12^th African Games as Nigeria will again square up with Burkina Faso in the battle for the gold medal on Friday.

The two teams played the very first match of the Games on August 16, stalemating scores at 1-1. That encounter of the Flying Eagles and Stallions of Burkina Faso was the first ever between the two Under 20 teams.

Now, it is the tiebreaker and a quest of gold as the winner-takes-it all. Friday’s encounter will be the second ever for the Under 20 teams of both countries.

Nigeria got to the final by overcoming Mali in a sweat-soaked semi-final encounter that stretched beyond regulation time into extra time, penalty shootout and then the sudden death situation.

Burkina Faso on the other hand, got to the final almost in similar fashion, beating Senegal 5-4 on penalties.

Meanwhile, Senegal and Mali will play for third place on Thursday at the Municipal Stadium El Mansouria.

Results

• Senegal 1-1 (4-5 pen) Burkina Faso
• Nigeria 0-0 (5-4 pen) Mali

Next fixtures

• Thursday: Third Place Senegal vs Mali
• Friday: Final Burkina Faso vs Nigeria