CHAMPIONS: Nigeria win U-23 AFCON

Nigeria national U-23 team have been crowned champions of the 2015 CAF U-23 Nations Cup in Dakar, Senegal. 

The Dream Team VI defeated Algeria 2-1 in the final of the tournament on Saturday evening to win the second edition of the quadrennial showpiece. 

Tournament top scorer, Oghenekaro Etebo, scored his fourth and fifth of the competition to hand Nigeria her first ever U-23 championship. 

Skipper Azubuike Okechukwu and FIFA U-17 World Cup record scorer, Victor Osimhen, were handed starts after the latter impressed as a substitute against Senegal in the Semi-final. 

Fresh from qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Dream Team began the stronger of the two sides and showed more determination towards goal. 

Etebo made a solo run from midfield towards the Algerian box in the 14th minute and was brought down for Nigeria's fourth penalty kick of the competition. 

The Warri wolves midfielder stepped up to convert from the spot to put Samson Siasia's team in front. 

Sixteen minutes later, the Desert Foxes drew level through a Segun Oduduwa own goal. 

Etebo restored the lead for Nigeria with a well taken strike five minutes before half time.

Oduduwa was the victim again in the 68th minute - this time he was adjourned to have fowled an opponent in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. 

Nigeria goalkeeper, Daniel Emmanuel, produced his second successive penalty save to deny the North Africans an equaliser. 

In the third-place play-off played earlier, South Africa defeated Senegal on penalties to claim the last available spot for the Olympic. 

The junior Bafana Bafana joins Nigeria and Algeria as Africa's representative at the biggest sports fiesta in the world.