The Young Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire emerged champions of the 2025 WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament after defeating Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 1–0 in a dramatic final held in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday.

The deciding moment came in added time when Nigerian goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt mishandled a set-piece. Ivorian forward Zakaria Tindano capitalized swiftly, tapping in the loose ball to seal victory for the West African nation.

“I saw the chance and knew I had to take it. Our team fought for every ball today,” said match-winner Tindano.

The result caps off a flawless campaign for the Ivorians, who recorded five wins from five matches. Their dominance began with a 2–1 win over Burkina Faso and continued through the group stage with 1–0 and 2–0 victories over Niger Republic and Togo, respectively. In the semifinals, they came from behind to edge tournament hosts Ghana 2–1.

“Our strategy was simple—discipline, unity, and focus,” said Ivorian coach Issa Diabaté. “This team deserves every bit of this triumph.”

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, seven-time continental champions, had matched the Ivorians stride for stride until Harcourt’s costly error in the final moments. Despite the setback, head coach Ladan Bosso expressed confidence in his squad’s potential.

“They gave it their all. We’ll regroup and be stronger,” Bosso said.

The win marks Côte d’Ivoire’s second WAFU B U20 title and adds to a growing legacy for the nation’s youth football development.