NIGERIA’S GOLDEN EAGLETS BOOK THEIR SPOT AT THE U-17 AFCON IN ALGERIA.
Written by AIGBOKHAEBHO OKHUELEIGBE on June 21, 2022
The Nigerian Under 17 male football team, the Golden Eaglets have secured qualification to the 2023 U-17 AFCON tournament by defeating their cote D’ Ivoire counterpart 3:1 in a semi-final game at the WAFU B U-17 competition ongoing in Ghana.
The victory made sure that the Golden Eaglets will play in the final of the WAFU B competition where they will face either Ghana or Burkina Faso.
At the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Ghana, the Golden Eaglets had to dig deep to come from behind to defeat the Junior Elephants, thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from Emmanuel Michael who got a brace with both goals coming from the setpiece. The Eaglets who had their minds set on victory overcame the early setback on a soggy pitch to win 3:1.
The Junior Elephant had gone ahead early in the match, but a good composure and determination ensured the Nduka Ugbade tutored boys got back on level pegging through an Emmanuel Michael well-taken free-kick goal, his second free-kick goal in the tournament. Emmanuel was on hand to deliver another goal through a set-piece, his second in the match in the 44th minute to make sure the Eaglets effectively turned the match around just before halftime.
The match was put beyond the hapless Junior Elephants in the 61st minute when Abdullahi Idris nodded home a Liwali cross from close range to ensure Nigeria will be Ably represented at the CAF U-17 AFCON competition next year in Algeria.
Nigeria’s hopes of going to the FIFA U-17 World Cup are well alive if they can reach the semi-finals of the African tournament in Algeria.
