A resilient Ivory Coast side fought back to rescue a point against Nigeria in the opening Group B clash in the ongoing WAFU U20 Tournament in Benin on Sunday afternoon.

A 59th minute strike from Wisdom Onyedikachi Ubani was cancelled by a late strike from Bi Vroh Dje on the 91st minute as both teams left with a point.

Nigeria looked a better side in the first half as both sides played a game that was saturated with nervousness.

Both sides threw cautious punches at each other but looked less dangerous before the break but it was the Nigerian side that came closer to scoring but looked slow with a counter attack that could have earned them a goal.

The second half of the game resumed with Nigeria continuing from where they left off, pushing endlessly until Wisdom broke the deadlock 14 minutes after the break with an expertly taken free kick following a foul at the right side of the Ivory Coast 18-yard box.

The Ivorian defenders were caught ball watching as the goalkeeper failed to save the situation, going down by a goal.

The heat of the game immediately turned on the leaders as Ivory Coast pushed and fired from all angles in search of the equaliser.

The Orange side dominated play, dictated pace and pressed their opponents to their own half but the final delivery still left them trailing by a goal until the 91st minute.

Nigeria looked like going home with an opening group win until Bi Vroh Dje fetched the equalizer for Ivory Coast after beating the offside trap with the Nigerian goalkeeper to his mercy to leave the final score 1-1.

The draw has left the group wide open with Ghana yet to play their opening game of the competition.

Ghana will play Nigeria on Wednesday and play Ivory Coast on Saturday to determine who qualifies from the group to the semi finals of the competition.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast have a point each with Ghana yet to play a game with no point.