Nigeria’s national U17 team, the Golden Eaglets began their 2023 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (U17AFCON) campaign with a 1-0 win over Zambia in their group B opener on Sunday night.
Favour Daniel fired home emphatically in the 76th minute after a ricochet inside the box to give Nduka Ugbade’s wards maximum points in their first game in what looks like a difficult group.
The Eaglets had the better of the first half exchanges at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui in Constantine but the West Africans could not find a breakthrough against the resolute Zambians.
In fact, both sides went close to breaking the deadlock in the opening half but were denied by the woodwork as the game remained on a knife’s edge in the second half.
The COSAFA Champions grew into the game in the second half but were denied by a point blank save by Nigerian goalkeeper Richard Odoh after the hour mark before they were stung at the other end minutes later.
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The five-time world champions were set to take a two-goal win into their clash with Morocco on Wednesday but substitute Light Eke made light work of a penalty kick awarded two minutes into additional time, with the Zambian keeper saving brilliantly.
Effervescent Nigerian right back Yahaya Danjuma Lawali was named the game’s Most Valuable Player for his impressive perfirmance against the Zambia U17s.
Up next for the Golden Eaglets is a clash with the Atlas Cubs of Morocco at the same venue while Zambia face South Africa in a Southern Africa derby.
Morocco currently top Group B after a 2-0 win over South Africa in the evening game in Constantine. Two goals in the final seventeen minutes gave the Moroccans the three points ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster clash with Nigeria.
