NIGERIA’s Golden Eaglets have emerged as the champions of the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship after a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in the final tonight in Cape Coast, Ghana.
The five-time world champions claimed the regional title with a 100 percent record, winning all their group games as well as the semi-final and final within regulation time.
The U-17 triumph follows the Flying Eagles’ title-winning success in the WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship in Niger Republic in May.
Abubakar Abdullahi scored both goals for Nigeria while Abdulramane Ouedraogo netted Burkina Faso’s only goal as they suffered their first and only defeat in five matches in the competition.
Abdullahi shot the Eaglets ahead in the 22nd minute, powering home a header off Emmanuel Michael’s delivery.
The goal scorer had an opportunity to double Nigeria’s advantage in the 34th minute but he missed from close range.
The Burkinabes were then back level seven minutes after the miss, equalising through Ouedrago’s header.
Abdullahi however made amends two minutes into the second half as he restored Nigeria’s lead, although he missed another glorious chance to make it 3-1 and claim a hat-trick moments later.
Burkina Faso almost found a second equaliser midway into the second half but Nigeria goalkeeper Richard Odoh denied them with a magnificent save.
Ebube Okeke then hit the crossbar from 25 yards as the Golden Eaglets sought to extend their lead, but Nduka Ugbade’s boys did not need another goal as they held on to their slim lead until the final whistle.
Nigeria goalkeeper Richard Odoh was named man of the match for the final, the prize his teammate Michael won in all three previous matches against Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.
