Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – (African Boulevard News) – In a thrilling encounter, Burkina Faso edged out Nigeria 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Thursday, booking their place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and securing a spot in the World Cup.
After the first half of the game ended goalless, it was the Burkinabe who took the lead in the 64th minute through Ismael Boahen. However, Nigeria responded almost immediately, with Oluwakayode Isiaka equalizing just two minutes later, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
In the 79th minute, Burkina Faso’s Mamoudou Ouedraogo scored what would ultimately be the winning goal, sending his country into the semi-finals and earning them a spot in the U-17 World Cup. The Burkinabe will now face the winner of the match between Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
Burkina Faso coach Abdoul Karim Sango expressed his delight with his team’s performance, saying: “This is a great moment for us. We came here with a plan to make it to the World Cup and we have achieved that. The boys showed great character and determination. We are looking forward to the semi-finals.”
The victory was all the more impressive for Burkina Faso given that they had lost their opening game of the tournament against Algeria. However, they bounced back with back-to-back wins against Zambia and Nigeria to book their place in the last four.
The TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations is a vital competition for African countries, with the top four teams qualifying for the U-17 World Cup, which will be held in Peru next year.
The tournament, which began on November 26, features eight teams divided into two groups, with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals.
With the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations now reaching its final stages, fans around Africa will be eagerly anticipating the remaining matches, with the prospect of the U-17 World Cup adding even more excitement to the competition.
As the tournament continues to unfold, African Boulevard News will keep you updated on all the latest news and results from the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. Stay tuned.
