According to Laddan Bosso, coach of the Flying Eagles, his team lost stupidly in the semi-final match with Gambia.
The Young Scorpions secured a famous 1-0 victory over the Flying Eagles in Cairo to qualify for their maiden final.
Talisman Adama Bojang scored after eight minutes to send Abdoulie Bojang’s charges’ through.
READ ALSO: Nigeria vs Gambia will be a tactical battle – Bojang
Nigeria came into the tournament as strong contenders having won the tournament a record seven times.
Substitute Ahmed Abdullahi won and missed a penalty in the closing stages of the match which Nigeria dominated.
“We lost stupidly, we were naive from the start,” a disappointed Bosso.
“We failed to take our chances and we also missed the penalty in the 86th minute.
“I am very frustrated because we had the team to go all the way. Football is cruel.
“We didn’t measure up. I congratulate The Gambia for winning,” he added.
READ ALSO: There are no small teams – Bosso
Gambia joined Senegal in the final of the TotalEnergies U20 AFCON following the Young Teranga Lions comfortable 3-0 victory over Tunisia in Ismailia.
It is a deserved victory- Bojang
Gambia U20 coach Abdoulie Bojang says his side deserves to be in the final the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after edging past favourites Nigeria in the semi-final.
The Young Scorpions are undoubtedly the sensation of the tournament in Egypt after stunning the favourites and seven-time champions in the last four match on Monday to secure their historic ticket to the final.
Adama Bojang scored the winner after seven minutes to send Gambia to Saturday’s final against neighbours Senegal.
“I am proud of my players who keep writing the history of our football,” coach Abdoulie Bojang said.
“It is extraordinary, magnificent, satisfactory and much more than that.
“We have scored 10 goals in this competition without conceding. We’re a small country which now plays in the tournaments.”
The WAFU-A runners-up and Senegal won all their matches without conceding a goal in the tournament.
The Young Scorpions reached the semifinals of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania two years before winning bronze.
“It is a deserved victory. We will fight for the title against Senegal,” Bojang said.
“Senegal is winning everything right now. We must prevent them on Saturday.”
The two sides have a similar record in the tournament as they won all five matches without conceding a goal and scoring in each match.
Senegal has the best attack of the tournament with 12 goals while the Gambia are just two shy with 10 goals.
The final at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, 11 March will rekindle the two country’s footballing rivalry as they both seek a maiden TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON crown.
