Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets closed their WAFU B U-17 Championship marketing campaign with an expert 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Friday’s third-place play-off in Yamoussoukro.
But, the victory felt like a comfort prize after one other failed qualification bid for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Yusuf shines in first begin
Coach Manu Garba handed Ahmed Yusuf his first begin of the event and the younger ahead seized the second, drilling dwelling a low strike simply 5 minutes into the second half to interrupt the impasse after Nigeria had wasted a number of first-half possibilities.
Substitute Well-known Umole made the factors protected within the 77th minute, latching onto a exact Paul Ugwu through-ball to fit previous the Burkinabe goalkeeper and seal the outcome.
Yusuf’s efficiency, named Participant of the Match, provided a tantalising glimpse of what may need been had he been trusted earlier within the marketing campaign.
Bronze once more, AFCON missed once more
The outcome means Nigeria return dwelling with bronze for the second consecutive 12 months, scant comfort for the file five-time U-17 world champions, who will as soon as once more be absent when Africa’s elite collect for subsequent 12 months’s U-17 AFCON.
It’s a bitter tablet for a proud soccer nation whose youth groups as soon as dominated the world stage, having gained the celebrated U-17 World Cup a file 5 occasions.
A Marketing campaign of highs and lows
The event had began brightly for Garba’s boys. They dismantled Benin 4-1 of their opening match and performed a goalless draw with Burkina Faso within the group stage. With simply three groups in Group B, that was sufficient to prime the group and arrange a semi-final conflict in opposition to arch-rivals Ghana.
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However the Ghanaians ruthlessly uncovered Nigeria’s defensive fragility, punishing errors to assert a 2-0 victory and deny the Eaglets their AFCON ticket. Burkina Faso additionally fell of their semi-final to hosts Ivory Coast, leaving either side to battle for third place on Friday.
What it means
For Nigeria, the bronze medal is a sobering reminder somewhat than a triumph. That is now back-to-back failures to qualify for the U-17 AFCON, extending a worrying pattern for Nigerian youth soccer.
A nation that has produced 5 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning groups is asking arduous questions on its expertise pipeline, preparation and improvement technique. The conveyor belt that when appeared unstoppable now appears to be like to be stalling on the continental stage.
If the Golden Eaglets are to reclaim their place as Africa’s standard-bearers, systemic modifications could also be wanted, as a result of Nigeria’s youth legacy is on the road.
