Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – Nigeria’s U17 team have crashed out of the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals. Despite the loss, the team’s coach, Nduka Ugbade, has praised his players for their efforts and approach to the game.
Ugbade stated, “I don’t think there’s anything to fault in the way the boys played, they gave their all, and I am proud of them.” The coach was impressed with his team’s performance, despite their inability to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The loss was a major disappointment for Nigeria, a team that has won the U17 AFCON a record five times, including the last edition held in Tanzania two years ago. Burkina Faso, on the other hand, advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face Ivory Coast.
The match started brightly for Nigeria as they took an early lead, thanks to a goal from Ahmed Abdul, but the Burkinabe rallied back with two quick-fire goals from Ismael Sawadogo and Ibrahim Nikiema, securing a vital victory for their team.
Despite the defeat, Ugbade expressed satisfaction with the efforts of his players and remained positive about the future of the team. He stated, “Our focus now is how we can build the team for the future. We will go back to the drawing board, and continue to work hard to improve our performances.”
Nigeria’s exit from the tournament has left fans disappointed, with many expressing their frustration on social media. However, Ugbade’s positive outlook on the future of the team has offered some hope for the team’s supporters.
The TotalEnergies U17 AFCON is being held in Morocco and features the best young players from across Africa. The tournament is a platform for scouts and agents to discover new talents and has produced several world-class players, including Samuel Eto’o and Victor Osimhen.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s U17 team may have been eliminated from the tournament, but coach Nduka Ugbade remains optimistic about the future of the team. With hard work and dedication, the team has the potential to bounce back from this setback and continue to excel on the international stage.
