Kano Pillars midfielder Alhassan Ibrahim scored a 73rd minute free kick to secure a 1-0 win for the Nigeria U20 team against host Niger Republic in their final group game of the tournament.
The win mean Nigeria qualifies for the semi-final of the 8 team tournament and also for the U20 World Youth Championship in Poland later in the year, marking their return to the tournament after missing out on a spot in the last edition.
Host Niger Republic are out of the tournament with South Africa clinching the other semi-final berth from the group courtesy of their 1-0 win over Burundi in the other group game.
South Africa are also through to the World Youth Championship in Poland following their qualification for the semi-final of the tournament tagged Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which serves as qualifiers for the World Youth Championship for African nations.
