A goalkeeping error handed Niger the lead, and Mubarak Fasiu’s stoppage time goal came too late to save a point.
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Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets lost 2-1 to Niger Republic in their opening game at the WAFU B U-17 Championship in Ouagadougou on Wednesday night. As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, the defeat leaves them bottom of Group B without a point.
Niger took the lead in the 19th minute. Goalkeeper Mutiu Adedayo failed to deal with a cross inside the box, and Abdoul Razaq Zada calmly slotted the loose ball home.
Nigeria went into the break a goal down and couldn’t find an equaliser. Abdoul Rakilou made it 2-0 in the 86th minute, four minutes from time.
Substitute Mubarak Fasiu pulled one back deep into stoppage time, in the fifth minute of added time. It was too late to rescue a point.
The Group B Picture
Niger now have four points from two games, after drawing 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire in their opener. That’s enough to put them through to the semi-finals.
Nigeria have no points, and Côte d’Ivoire have one. The two sides meet on Friday in the final group game, and Nigeria need a win. A draw would leave Côte d’Ivoire ahead on points, with two to Nigeria’s one.
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A Costly Mistake
Niger’s Saminou Salissou Nouhou was named Man of the Match. Goalkeeping errors are cruel at youth level, where confidence is fragile, so Adedayo will need support from the coaching staff before Friday.
The result has already drawn criticism at home. Sports247 reports that Ibadan based youth developer Isaac Ogada described the defeat as an embarrassment for Nigerian football.
Is the loss a warning about the age-grade system? It’s too early to say. One result at a tournament doesn’t define a development pipeline, but Nigeria can’t afford another slip.
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Friday’s Decider
It was an unsettled build-up, with the squad forced to train on a termite infested five a-side pitch the day before the game. Whether that played a part or not, the Eaglets now have to put it behind them.
Coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere has two days to reset his squad. Nigeria’s pedigree at this level counts for little against a Côte d’Ivoire side that will fancy its chances.
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A win would send the Eaglets through, and a late goal on Wednesday showed they’re still fighting. Friday will show whether that fight is enough.
📌 Did You Know?
- Seven countries are in the tournament. Group A has four teams (Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana and Togo), while Group B has three, which is why Niger have already played both of their games.
- Niger’s Man of the Match, Saminou Salissou Nouhou, wore the number four shirt.
- Nigeria’s five U-17 World Cup titles came in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
- Before travelling to Burkina Faso, the Eaglets beat Simonben Academy 4-0 in a friendly in Abuja.
- Niger’s opening 1-1 draw with Côte d’Ivoire was played at the Stade du 4-Août in Ouagadougou.
