Nigeria’s Special Eagles have secured their spot in the final of the amputee football event at the maiden West Africa Para Games in Abeokuta, following a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Cameroon on Sunday at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.
The win continues Nigeria’s impressive start to the competition, coming on the heels of their emphatic 11–0 demolition of Benin Republic in Friday’s opening match.
In that fixture, Ahmed Usman led the charge with four goals, Michael Joel struck a hat-trick, Ahize Daniel came off the bench to net three, and Ibrahim Ndako added one to seal a dominant display in the 50-minute encounter.
Against Cameroon, the Special Eagles imposed themselves early and created several openings before Usman punished a defensive error to give Nigeria the lead. The team remained composed and disciplined, shutting out Cameroon and maintaining their attacking fluidity throughout the match.
Sunday’s victory places Nigeria in strong contention for a place in Wednesday’s final, with their last group match coming up against Liberia on Monday. Depending on the outcome, they will either advance to the title decider or feature in the third-place play-off.
Elsewhere in the competition, Benin Republic and Cameroon played out a goalless draw, while Liberia opened their campaign with a commanding 7–0 win over Benin.
The Special Eagles’ performances so far underline their quality, depth, and ambition—bolstered by the impact of substitutes such as Daniel, whose hat-trick against Benin showcased the team’s strength in numbers.
Over 700 athletes are participating in the inaugural West Africa Para Games, which kicked off on Friday, with events taking place across the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Alake Sports Centre, and Oke Mosan.
Nigeria now shifts focus to Monday’s crucial clash with Liberia, as the team pushes to seal their place in the final and continue their impressive run on home soil.
