Nigeria’s Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets, have been knocked out of the ongoing Under-17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Algeria after losing 1-2 to their Burkina Faso counterparts in the quarterfinals.
The match took place at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Thursday.
The defeat means Nigeria has missed out on a place in the 2023 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which will be held in November, as the team failed to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing AFCON.
Aboubacar Camara put Burkina Faso in the lead at the 45th minute, following a defensive error from Tochukwu Ogbiji. Despite goalkeeper Richard Odoh’s attempt to block the ball, Camara was able to score.
Ogbiji was also adjudged to have fouled Lassina Traore in the 18-yard box, and a penalty was awarded against Nigeria’s team in the 57th minute. Camara scored from the penalty spot to increase his team’s goal tally.
Nigeria responded ten minutes later with a tap-in by Abubakar Abdullahi to reduce the goal deficit for the home team. However, the goal was not enough to secure a win for the Golden Eaglets.
Morocco, Mali, Senegal, and Burkina Faso have all secured places at this year’s World Cup.