Nigeria 2-2 Kenya: Bameyi, Arierhi to the rescue as Flying Eagles lose invincibility but gain quarter-final ticket

Nigeria and Kenya played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their final Group B match at the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The Flying Eagles twice went behind but fought back through goals from Kparobo Arierhi and captain Daniel Bameyi. 

With the draw, Nigeria finish as Group B runners-up behind Morocco, who claimed an impressive 3-1 win over Tunisia.

Nigeria vs Kenya: How it happened 

First Half

Head coach Aliyu Zubairu made three changes to the side that drew goalless with Morocco, handing starts to Simon Cletus, Kparobo Arierhi and Ezekiel Kpangu in place of Bidemi Amole, Precious Benjamin, and Divine Oliseh.

However, it was Kenya who struck first. In the 6th minute, VAR spotted a handball by centre-back Chukwu, who had blocked a goalbound shot with his arm just inside the box.

Rising Stars captain Kévin Wangaya made no mistake from the penalty spot, sending goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt the wrong way to give the East Africans an early lead — their third consecutive game scoring first.

It was the first goal Nigeria had conceded at the 2025 U20 AFCON in Egypt, having kept clean sheets in their previous matches against Tunisia and Morocco.

Despite the setback, the Flying Eagles responded well and were level just seven minutes later. Cletus played a clever through-ball into the path of Arierhi, and the Norway-based striker rounded the goalkeeper expertly before slotting the ball into the net.

Arierhi almost doubled his tally moments later, but his header was well saved by Kenya’s alert goalkeeper, Wycliford Oduor.

Nigeria were beginning to dominate possession, but Kenya showed flashes of quality in attack. Playmaker Aldrine Kibet tested Harcourt with a fierce long-range strike, forcing the Nigerian keeper into a full-stretch save.

At the other end, Jephta came agonisingly close to scoring Nigeria’s second, but his curling effort towards the top corner failed to dip in time.

The Flying Eagles were committing men forward in search of a second goal, which left space at the back for Kenya to exploit. However, the Rising Stars couldn’t capitalise. Despite both sides playing enterprising football, clear-cut chances were few and far between, with Nigeria having the slight edge.

Credit goes to Nigerian defenders Odinaka Okoro and Daniel Bameyi, who stayed sharp and managed to keep Kenya’s dangerous forwards in check.

Nigeria had the final opportunity of the half when Arierhi laid the ball off for Kpangu, but his tame strike was easily gathered by Oduor.

By halftime, news filtered in that Morocco had taken a 1-0 lead over Tunisia — a result that provisionally pushed the Atlas Cubs to the top of Group B, with Nigeria second and Tunisia slipping to third.

More details shortly.