Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – After a 16-year drought, Nigeria’s Under-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, are on a mission to regain their dominance in African football as they gear up for the 2021 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Coach Nduka Ugbade has assembled young talents primarily from secondary schools and academies across Nigeria to represent the country in the tournament.
The Golden Eaglets have a rich pedigree in youth football, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup a record five times, including back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2015. However, they have not won the African U-17 championship since 2005, making this year’s tournament a crucial one for the team to prove themselves and end their drought.
Ugbade, a member of Nigeria’s 1985 U-17 World Cup-winning team and assistant coach of the 2013 and 2015 winning teams, is confident in his squad’s abilities. “We have a mixture of seasoned and young players who are all eager to make a name for themselves,” he said. “We have been working hard in training, and I believe we have what it takes to bring the trophy back home.”
The team’s first test will be against Tanzania in their opening match on March 14, followed by clashes with Algeria and Congo. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners of the semifinals advancing to the final.
Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Football Confederation (CAF) decided to go ahead with the tournament, which was initially scheduled for last year. The tournament will be played under strict COVID-19 protocols, with all teams required to undergo regular testing and adhere to social distancing rules.
Nigeria has a proud history in youth football and will be expected to go far in this year’s tournament, but Ugbade is not taking any team for granted. “We know it won’t be an easy road to the final,” he said. “Every team will come out to prove themselves, but we are ready for whatever comes our way.”
The Golden Eaglets’ quest for glory has captured the attention of football fans across Nigeria, who are eagerly anticipating the tournament’s start. With a talented squad and an experienced coach, the team’s chances of lifting the trophy for the sixth time are high. Nigerians are rallying behind the young team, hoping they can bring back the glory days of Nigerian football.
