Posted by By Michael oti Adjei, BBC Sport, Cotonou on
Defending champions Egypt reached the final of the African Youth Championship on Wednesday after beating hosts Benin on a penalty shoot-out.
Defending champions Egypt reached the final of the African Youth Championship on Wednesday after beating hosts Benin on a penalty shoot-out.
The Junior Pharaohs won 4-1 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 after extra-time.
Egypt will contest Saturday's final against Nigeria, who defeated Morocco in the first of Wednesday's two semi-finals.
In the second tie, the Beninois got off to the perfect start when Gariga Abou Maiga delighted fans in Cotonou's Friendship Stadium with a goal after just two minutes.
Yet the Junior Squirrels' one-goal advantage never looked as though it was going to be enough, and Alaa El-Masry fired Egypt level with seven minutes left.
No words can express how I feel - I'm very proud of my players
Nigeria coach Samson Siasia
The reigning champions went on to dominate extra-time but failed to find the decisive strike that would have removed the need for penalties.
Nigeria also qualified for the final via a penalty shoot-out, after the Flying Eagles' clash with Morocco had ended 2-2 after extra-time.
Kennedy Chinwo was the hero for Nigeria when he fired his spot-kick home to secure a 5-3 victory.
Morocco twice led in the match, and opened the scoring eleven minutes into the tie through Mouhssine Iajour.
Yet Solomon Okoronkwo equalised for Nigeria in the 53rd minute to take the match into extra-time at the Friendship Stadium in the Beninois capital Cotonou.
Iajour fired Morocco into a 2-1 lead in the 101st minute, but Nigeria found a dramatic equaliser with just five minutes left through Obinna Victor Nsofor to force the penalty shoot-out.
"No words can express how I feel," Nigeria coach Samson Siasia told BBC Sport.
"We were down twice and fought back on each occasion.
"These boys never gave up and kept fighting until the last seconds of the match - I'm very proud of them."
Morocco finished the game with ten men after Nabil El Zhar was sent off early in the first period of extra-time.