U17 Afcon: Eaglets qualify for Fifa U17 World Cup, despite draw with Uganda

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, two-times African champions, have finished as winners of Group A at the ongoing U17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Tanzania despite a 1-1 draw with Uganda on Saturday.

Following Saturday’s draw against Uganda at the Chamazi Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the Eaglets also sealed their place at the 18th Edition of the Fifa U-17 World Cup which will take place in Brazil.

Before the match, the two teams in Group A had a chance of going through, but the Nigerian team made the top position theirs after Ibraheem Jabaar’s equaliser saw them dump the Cecafa champions out of the competition.

In their usual manner, since the the tournament began, the Golden Eaglets were wasteful in front of goal, starting from Akinkunmi Amoo’s poor touch after a sweet team move in the 17th minute.

Moments later, Wisdom Ubani lashed a shot narrowly over the bar from a free-kick, and at the other end, Uganda came close to taking the lead when Samson Kasozi headed the ball against the upright from a corner.

In the 69th minute, Uganda drew blood as the Nigeria defenceline ball-watched from a corner kick. Davis Ssekajja’s pull out only got a slight touch from Sunday Stephen, and substitute John Alou had the simplest task of nodding into an empty net.

In the 74th minute, the Golden Eaglets responded immediately through Jabaar, who read a long pass from substitute Olakunle Olusegun quite well and pushed it beyond onrushing goalkeeper Komakech.

The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate as both sides could not score a winner.

With this result, the Nigerian U17 team will in Wednesday’s semi-finals face the second-placed team in Group B, which would be sorted out on Sunday as leaders Cameroon confront Senegal and second –placed Guinea tackle Morocco.