Pretoria, South Africa – (African Boulevard News) – The stage is set for the highly anticipated U17 AFCON match between South Africa U17 and Nigeria U17. Dubbed as the make or break fixture between Amajimbos and the Golden Eaglets, Nigeria will be looking for a win to keep their chances of booking a spot in the U17 World Cup alive.
Team News:
Both teams are coming into the match with two points each after drawing their opening fixtures against Tanzania and Guinea respectively. South Africa will be boosted by the return of midfielder Jabulani Ncobeni from suspension, while Nigeria will be without striker Ahmed Abdullahi who is serving a one-match suspension.
Head-to-Head:
These two teams have a long-standing rivalry that dates back several years. In their last meeting in 2019, Nigeria emerged victorious with a 3-1 win in the U17 AFCON semi-final. However, South Africa will be confident of getting a result this time around, especially after their spirited performance against Tanzania in their opening match.
Lineups:
South Africa is expected to stick with the same starting lineup that played against Tanzania. This means that Njabulo Ngcobo will continue to lead the line, with Thando Buthelezi providing support from midfield. On the other hand, Nigeria will be looking to make changes to their lineup, with Wisdom Ubani expected to take the place of the suspended Ahmed Abdullahi in attack.
Quotes:
Speaking ahead of the match, South Africa coach Vela Khumalo said, “We know that Nigeria is a strong team, but we are not afraid of them. We have a plan in place, and we are confident that we can get a positive result.” Meanwhile, Nigeria coach Fatai Amoo said, “South Africa is a very good team, and we respect them. However, we are here to win, and that is what we will be aiming to do.”
In conclusion:
The match promises to be an exciting and closely contested affair, with both teams fighting for their place in the U17 World Cup. Fans and pundits alike will be keeping a watchful eye on the outcome of this match, as it could have far-reaching consequences for both teams.
