Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – The Nigerian U-17 football team, also known as the Golden Eaglets, got their U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign off to a flying start with a 1-0 victory over Zambia at the Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou in Mauritania.
The Eaglets, who are five-time U-17 AFCON champions and also five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, started the game on the front foot and continuously pushed for an early goal. Their efforts paid off in the 21st minute when Favour Daniel scored the lone goal of the match with a brilliant strike from outside the box to give Nigeria the lead.
The Zambians tried to get back in the game and came closest in the second half when they were awarded a penalty kick in the dying minutes of the game. However, their hopes were dashed when substitute Light Eke casually lost the penalty kick awarded to Nigeria two minutes into additional time.
Nigeria’s victory over Zambia puts them in a good position in Group B, which also includes Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the winner of the U-17 AFCON qualifying for the 2021 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.
Speaking after the game, Nigeria’s coach, Fatai Amoo, was pleased with his team’s performance, saying: “It was a good start for us, and I’m happy with the three points. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, and the boys did well to get the win. We’ll take it one game at a time and focus on our next game against Guinea.”
The U-17 AFCON is an important tournament for young African players, as it provides a platform for them to showcase their talents and potentially get noticed by top football clubs around the world. The tournament also helps to develop football talent in Africa and promote the growth of the sport on the continent.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s victory over Zambia in their opening game of the U-17 AFCON is a positive start for the Golden Eaglets as they look to defend their title and qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru. With two more group games to play, the Nigerian team will be looking to build on this performance and secure their place in the semi-finals.
