Nigeria 3-1 Zambia: Eaglets Clinch U-17 World Cup Ticket

Nigeria Under-17 national team secured their place in the semi-finals of the African Junior Championship, as well as the the Fifa World Cup finals later this year after a commanding win over Zambia in Niamey, Niger Republic, on Saturday.

Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali scored a goal either side of Victor Osimeh’s brace to increase his tally to three- same as the latter- on conclusion of the group stage matches.

Zambia skipper Patson Daka grabbed a consolation for debutantes, Chipolopolo juniors, who threw caution to the winds despite an improved second half display.

The Golden Eaglets Ended the Group Stages of the Africa U-17 Championship With Seven Points from a Possible Nine. Image: Caf via BackPagePix.
The Golden Eaglets Ended the Group Stages of the Africa U-17 Championship With Seven Points from a Possible Nine. Image: Caf via BackPagePix.

The victory at the Stade Municipal saw Nigeria finish the group stages with seven points, three ahead of Guinea- 2-1 losers to hosts Niger- in second place. Zambia and Niger finished on three points each with a win and two losses apiece.

Guinea nonetheless are the other team from Pool A joining Nigeria in Chile in October, courtesy of the four points they collected in the first two group matches of the opening round.

The Syli juniors suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the hosts. Two first-half goals settled the day for the home team in front of a partisan crowd at the Stade Seyni Kountche.

Issoufou Boubacar opened scoring within two minutes of kickoff following a good run into the Guinea area but Abdoulaye Keita restored parity after 27 minutes. Ismael Lara restored Niger’s lead on 39 minutes to help the hosts finish on a high.