Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – (African Boulevard News) – The TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament is proving to be an exciting competition, with Burkina Faso team edging out Nigeria to qualify for the semi-finals and book a place in the U-17 World Cup.
In a tightly contested match, Burkina Faso secured a 2-1 victory against Nigeria at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Thursday. The win guarantees their place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, and more importantly, a slot in the 2022 FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru.
Burkina Faso dominated the first half of the encounter. The young Stallions took the lead in the 22nd minute after Nigeria’s goalkeeper spilled a cross from the right flank, allowing Juste Koala to tap the ball into the net. Burkina Faso doubled their lead in the 62nd minute through Ismael Kone, who showed great composure in front of goal to slot home a well-placed pass.
Nigeria tried to stage a comeback and managed to score a goal via a penalty in the 80th minute, but it was too little too late as Burkina Faso proved too resilient for them. The Nigerian team tried to push for an equalizer, but Burkina Faso’s defense held strong to secure the victory.
Burkina Faso’s coach, Oscar Barro, was ecstatic after the match, praising his team’s performance.
“I am proud of my team. We knew it was going to be a tough match, but the boys played with discipline and determination,” he said.
The victory is a significant milestone for the Burkinabe team, who failed to advance past the group stages in the last two U-17 tournaments. With the win over Nigeria, they have confirmed their place among the best teams in Africa and will now look forward to advancing in the semi-finals against Cote d’Ivoire.
The TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations is a biennial tournament that brings together the best under-17 teams from across the African continent. The competition serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, with the top four teams qualifying for the global tournament.
Burkina Faso’s victory over Nigeria is a testament to the growing strength of African football. The young stallions have shown that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level, and with their place at the U-17 World Cup secured, they will be looking to make an impact on the global stage.
As the tournament progresses, fans and followers will be eager to see how the rest of the competition unfolds, and which teams will emerge as the ultimate champions of the 2021 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
