Nigeria U17, the Golden Eaglets, will face their Ghanaian counterparts in the semi-finals of the ongoing WAFU-B U17 campaign in Cote d’Ivoire after a goalless draw with Burkina Faso in their final group game on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
It was a tight contest between the two teams, who had already booked their places in the last four in the three-team group. It was a straight fight for the top spot of the group, as they went on to settle for a share of the spoils at Stade du Lycee Scientifique, Yamoussoukro.
Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba, kept faith with the same starting XI that defeated Benin Republic in their first game on Wednesday. Hat-trick hero, George Agha, started in attack alongside the lively Boluwatife Thompson, while skipper David Edeh recovered from an elbow incident to start once again.
It was a tough match between the two teams, as Nigeria enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball possession, while Burkina Faso opted to keep their boys behind the ball. Nigeria laboured for most of the half, but they barely tested goalkeeper Cire Traore. However, few minutes before the break, the young stallions nearly got themselves in front, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Great Edafe, made a decent save to keep the scoreline even at the break.
It was more of the same in the second half, with the two teams failing to test the goalkeepers. Apart from Nigeria hitting the upright from a deflected cross, and Thompson’s effort being blocked in stoppage after some excellent work to create the space, the game was a tight one, and the two teams eventually ended the game goalless.
Owing to Nigeria’s superior goal difference, the Golden Eaglets will face Ghana in the semis, while Burkina Faso and hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, will trade tackles in the other semi-final game. Both fixtures will be played at Stade Charles Konan Banny, Yammasukoro, on Tuesday. Only the finalists will book their spots at the CAF U-17 AFCON scheduled for next year.
