Nigeria’s under-17 national team, Golden Eaglets will this Monday night go all out for victory in the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone-B championship, as Coach Fatai Folorunsho Amoo’s side seek victory in the final against Cote d’Ivoire, megasportsarena.com reports.
A win from the game, starting 9pm Nigeria time, would confirm double celebration for Amoo’s wards, as reaching the final has already confirmed them with a place at this year’s African U-17 Cup of Nations in Morocco, and they would be heading there as WAFU Zone-B champions for the second straight edition.
It is also a massive chance to confirm the revival of Amoo’s side, as they looked to be on their way home early, after an opening loss to Cote d’Ivoire and 1-1 draw with Ghana in their second match, but the Ivorians then beat the Ghanaians 3-1 to allow the Eaglets slip into the last four on superior goals difference.
The Eaglets then took their destiny into their own hands by beating Burkina Faso 1-0 in Friday’s first semi-final, which put them into the last match of the competition, and they are now set to tango CIV for the cup during Monday’s final in Togo’s main stadium, Stade Kegue.
Michael Papo was Nigeria’s hero, as the youngster fired the Eaglets to the U17 AFCON with a late match winner versus Burkina Faso, which was the first goal in open play for Amoo’s side, who now have a chance to avenge the 1-0 opening defeat they suffered against Cote d’Ivoire during their first game last week Monday.
A report by the communications department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) added: “Five-time world champions Nigeria zoomed into the final of the WAFU U17 Cup Tournament in Lome, Togo on Friday, following a 1-0 win over Group A winners Burkina Faso at the Stade Kegue.
“The Eaglets are now not only eligible to battle for the tournament’s diadem, but have also joined the teams that have qualified for the 2021 U17 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco 13th – 31st March.
“Michael Emmanuel Papo gave Nigeria, who also won the African championship in 2001 and 2007, the crucial ticket with his 77th minute goal, with the Burkinabes unable to respond until the final whistle.
“Fatai Amoo’s wards started the competition on a shaky note losing by the odd goal to Cote d’Ivoire, but then were held to a 1-1 draw by Ghana in their second game in the three-team Group B.”
Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire have already both qualified for the U17 AFCON in Morocco in July, but Eaglets’ captain, Chukwuemeka Egbu vowed tht his side will defend the WAFU B title on Monday night.
The impressive Ivorians pipped the Eaglets in their opening group game, but Egbu assured that his colleagues have rebounded from the verge of elimination and will use the lifeline granted Amoo’s wards by the Francophone West Africans.
Egbu submitted: “We want to make it back-to-back victory in the WAFU B championship. It will not be an easy game against a good team who beat us in our first game.
“But with the hard work we have put in, this is a great opportunity for us to defend the trophy. We thought all hope was lost, but by special grace of God, he restored us.”
