AFCON U17: Golden Eaglets suffer defeat to Morocco

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria were defeated 1-0 by Morocco in their second game of Group B at the U-17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

An unfortunate own goal by Tochuckwu Ogboji was the difference between the teams on Wednesday at the Stade Mohammed Hamlaoui in Constantine, Algeria.

The Nigerians had defeated Zambia in their opening game of the competition in a one-sided encounter.

The Nduka-Ugbade boys hoped to build on the brilliance of their previous performance to book a quarter-final place against Morocco.

But the Lions had other plans and smouldered the hopes of the Eaglets within the first few minutes of the game.

Abdel Maali dribbled past Hope Linus in the left wing before sending a cross into the Nigerian goal area. The innocuous delivery was deflected into the net by the crown of Ogboji’s head.

The Eaglets responded accordingly to the early goal and grew into the game as the minutes wore on.

Emmanuel Micheal bends a freekick into the palms of Taha Benrhozil before Precious William wrestled his way down the right wing into the byline and set up Abubakar Abdullahi who stabbed it high from a close range.

Not long after, Abdullahi missed another glorious chance when he skied the ball high in the 6-yard box after a ricochet from a freekick dropped for him.

Nigeria screwed in the pressure in the later stage of the game and Michael placed a freekick just millimetres past the upright while Benrhozil’s agility stopped an instinctive strike by Light Eke deep into stoppage time.

The Moroccans, however, held on and secured a place in the competition’s quarter-final, having beaten South Africa 2-0 in their first game.

The Eaglets will face South Africa in their final group game on Saturday.