The competition in the Ivorian city is the qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, at which Africa’s flag-bearers to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Qatar will be decided.

In group A, Cote d’Ivoire defeated Niger Republic 2-0 while Togo and Ghana drew 1-1 as the competition kicked off at the weekend.

Burkina Faso’s Baby Stallions on Sunday laboured to a 1-0 win over the Beninoise squad, in the first match of the three-team group B. Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Niger Republic make up group A.

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The victory for Nigeria has come barely few weeks after they claimed the WAFU B Under-20 Championship.

Then, they beat neighbours, Republic of Benin, in Niger Republic to claim the title.

The under-17 championship’s final match saw Nigeria on the front foot early as forward Abubakar Abdullahi threatened the Burkinabe rear as early as the 8th minute.

That was when his low drive streamed away from goal.

But in the 22nd minute, Abdullahi made up for the missed chance as he rose highest in the box to powerfully nod Emmanuel Michael’s perfect delivery into the net.

Abdullahi missed another golden opportunity to grab a brace, thereby allowing the Stallions a respite.

The miss would knock hard seven minutes later, when Abdulramane Ouedraogo, equalised for Burkina Faso also with a header.

Two minutes into the second half, Abdullahi got his brace and Nigeria’s second goal, giving the Golden Eaglets a 2-1 lead.

Twelve minutes later, he should have made it a hat-trick with Nigeria’s third but he lost the opportunity.

The loss could once more have proved costly, as the Stallions broke forward, only to see Nigeria goalkeeper Richard Odoh come up with a magnificent save.

Ebube Okeke rocked the crossbar from 25 yards in the 67th minute.

But there were to be no more goals as Nigeria collected a second regional diadem at youth level.

At the end of the game, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Odoh was selected the Man-of-the-Match.

His compatriot Emmanuel Michael had won the prize in all three previous matches — against Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.

Source: NAN

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This was after a 3-1 defeat of Togo’s Junior Sparrowhawks handed the Nigerian side the six maximum points from two matches in a three-team pool.

Hosts Ghana, which received a 4-2 plastering by five-time world champions, Nigeria, on the opening day, can now not earn more than three points.

They have only the game against the Togolese on Friday, while the Togolese have similar arithmetical chances in the campaign.

Either of them can only come second behind the rampaging Eaglets.

On Tuesday, the Golden Eaglets took off from where they ended against the Ghanaians, also three-time world champions.

Kevwe Iyede beat goalkeeper Komlan Ignace Kiti for Nigeria’s first goal in the 10th minute.

Team captain, Tonye Williams, added another in the 22nd minute, and that was how it ended in the first half.

In the 75th minute, the Togolese cut the deficit in half.

But Light Eke, who also scored Nigeria’s last goal in the 4-2 trashing of Ghana on Saturday, struck with nine minutes to go to ensure a handsome win for Nigeria.

The semi-final matches will be played on Monday.

Source: dpa/NAN

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The match played at the Cape Coast Stadium, saw Emmanuel Michael, Precious Williams, Jubril Azeez and Wisdom Ekere score a goal each for Nigeria.

The team, coached by 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship-winning captain Nduka Ugbade, were imperious as they dominated and eventually overpowered hosts Ghana.

Ghana threatened initially in the early stages of the first half but their efforts were punctured in the 12th minute through a powerful shot via a free kick by wing back Michael.

The hosts frantically sought penalties with theatrical falls around the penalty area  three minutes after they conceded the goal but referee Daniel Kassa would not be conned.

However, Williams got the second goal for Nigeria with a minute left in the first half as he latched onto a rebound after Ghanaian goalkeeper spilled a fierce strike by Kevwe Iyede.

The vital goal ensured the Golden Eaglets went into recess on the ascendancy against the host nation in the coastal town.

Nigeria’s advantage was extended further in the 51st minute through Azeez with a scrambled effort as the Ghanaian keeper sprawled on the ground but was unable to keep the ball away from goal.

But the Starlets pulled a goal back seven minutes later when substitute Abdulrazak Salifu got the better of goalkeeper Richard Odoh.

The Eaglets would not relent and in the 77th minute, midfielder Okere netted to restore Nigeria’s three-goal lead with an assured finish.

A momentary loss of concentration in the vital area led to Nigeria conceding a penalty with two minutes to the end.

Captain of the Black Starlets, Collins Agyemang made no mistake as he cooly converted from the spot and cut Nigeria’s advantage to two goals.

With the victory, the Eaglets top Group A of the championship ahead of their clash with Togo on Tuesday.

Victory over the Togolese will guarantee Nigeria a spot in the tournament’s semi-finals.

Group B is made up of Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.

Source: NAN

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During the match, the Eaglets defeated Ecuador by 3 – 2.

They had trailed Ecuador by 1-2, fifteen minutes to the end of the match.

According to the President, “The fact that the youngsters never gave up, and turned the table against their opponents, was a lesson in persistence and resilience.”

He recommended the can-do spirit that led to the Eaglets’ victory  to Nigerians, urging them to display such in all areas of endeavour, and in national development.

While wishing the Eaglets well in their final group match against Australia, which may well be a formality, President Buhari pledged government’s support to the team, as they strove to win the Under 17 World Cup yet again, thus confirming Nigeria’s position as a global power at that level.

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Players and officials were received by FIFA and local organising committee officials at the airport and they were ushered into the bus that took them to their hotel at the Metropolis area of the city.

The Golden Eaglets have been in the football–passionate South American country since October 10, in the city of Sao Paulo, where they had their training camp and played three warm up games against Sao Paulo U-17 side, which they lost 1-2, before defeating South Korea 4-2 and then losing by the odd goal to Japan.

The record holders of the title had their first training in Gioania Tuesday evening by 4.00 p.m. local time.

Nigeria, champions in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015 will tussle with Hungary, Australia and Ecuador in Group B of the three –week, 24 –nation finals.

FIFA U17 WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2019 GROUPS

GROUP A: Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Angola

GROUP B: Nigeria, Hungary, Ecuador, Australia

GROUP C: Korea Republic, Haiti, France, Chile

GROUP D: USA, Senegal, Japan, Netherlands

GROUP E: Spain, Argentina, Tajikistan, Cameroon

GROUP F: Solomon Islands, Italy, Paraguay, Mexico

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Having settled down in the city of Sao Paulo and gradually adapting to the high altitude weather, the Nigerian side will file out against Sao Paulo FC’s U-17 team at the Saropoca Sports Complex at 3 p.m. local time, which is 7 p.m. Nigerian time.

Speaking to thenff.com in Sao Paulo after breakfast on Sunday, Head Coach Manu Garba disclosed that the friendly game would be a good test for the players, to see how they were quickly settling down to the task ahead when the global championship kicks off in a fortnight.

“The team will play Sao Paulo FC and we want to see how they are adapting to some of the things learnt in the training sessions since we came to Sao Paulo,” Manu Garba said.

“The friendly game against Sao Paulo FC is one of the friendly games we have lined up for the team. The team will play Japan next in another friendly game before the end of the week,” he added.

Nigeria will begin her quest for honours at the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup with a game against Hungary on October 26.

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Eaglets and their officials arrived in Istanbul on Friday and had their first training session at the Turkey Technical Centre on Saturday morning before the officials proceeded to attend a technical meeting of all the eight participating teams at the tournament.

Speaking after the technical meeting, Manu Garba, head coach of the team insisted that the tournament was a perfect opportunity to test the readiness of the players for the task ahead at the FIFA U17 World Cup starting next month in Brazil.

“I am very optimistic that the tournament will come good for the players to stand the test of time in Brazil. Playing Turkey will definitely be a strong test for the team,” Manu told thenff.com

Angola will battle Scotland in another game on Sunday.

The eight participating teams at the UEFA/CAF U17 International Tournament are host Turkey, Nigeria, Scotland, Angola, Cameroon, Senegal, Paraguay and Guatemala.

This year’s FIFA U17 World Cup finals will hold 26th October – 17thNovember in Brazil.

21 EAGLETS IN TURKEY FOR UEFA/CAF TOURNEY

Goalkeepers: Joseph Oluwabusola; Sunday Stephen; Suleiman Shaibu.

Defenders: Shedrack Tanko; Ikenna Ferdinand; Usman Mohammed; Charles Etim; David Oduko

Midfielders: Samson Tijani; Mubaraq Adeshina; Shuaibu Abdulrazaq; Akinkunmi Amoo; Olatomi Olaniyan; Peter Agba; Ibraheem Jabaar; Fawaz Abdullahi; Suleiman Lawal

Forwards: Olakunle Olusegun; Mayowa Abayomi; Wisdom Ubani; Divine Nwachukwu

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