WAFU B U-17 Championship: Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets beat Burkina Faso to Emerge Champions

The Nigeria U-17 team emerged as the champions of the WAFU B U-17 tournament on Friday in Cape Coast after beating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the final match.

Abubakar Abdullahi scored a brace in the match to seal the victory.

The Young Etalons dominated the early proceedings and almost took an early lead in the fifth minute, but the good goalkeeping by the Golden Eaglets’ number one Richard Odoh denied them the chance.

The Eaglets settled into the game and they didn’t have to wait for too long when Abubakar headed in a good cross from Emmanuel Micheal in the 22nd minute into the Young Etalons’ net.

The Eaglets poor defending allowed Burkina Faso to pull level in the 42nd minute from a goalmouth melee.

The Eaglets started the second half on a serious note and got an early opening when they were awarded a free-kick and the dead ball specialist Emmanuel Micheal was on hand to take it.

The Burkina Faso goalkeeper denied Micheal another goal, but spilt the ball into the path of Abubakar who was well positioned to restore the Golden Eaglets’ lead in the 48th minute.

The early second-half goal was the winning strike that ensured the Eaglets emerge as the champions.

With the outcome of Friday night’s final match, Nigeria and Burkina Faso are now qualified for the Africa U17 Championship which Algeria will host next year.

It is from the tournament in Algeria that Africa’s flag bearers to next year’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru will emerge.