Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mali will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup.
The four sides sealed their places following the conclusion
of the quarter-final matches at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on
Thursday.
The 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 19th edition of the
biennial international men’s youth football tournament.
It is contested by 24 teams of the under-17 national teams
of the member associations of FIFA from six confederations.
It will be held from Nov. 10 to Dec. 2 in a yet to be
decided venue (initially Peru).
This edition marks the return of the tournament after a
4-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing FIFA to cancel the 2021
edition.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are the most successful team
in the tournament having made eight appearances and winning a record, five FIFA
U-17 World Cup titles (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015).
They were also runners up on three occasions (1987, 2001 and
2009).
Nigeria are also two-time Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
champions having won their first title in 2001, with their most recent title at
the 2007 edition.
They were runners up on two occasions (1995, 2013) and
finished third in 2003.
However, Eaglets will not be part of this year’s World Cup
as they lost 1-2 to their Burkina Faso counterparts in the quarter finals of
the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on
Thursday.
In the match, Aboubacar Camara put the Burkina Faso team in
the lead, at the 45th minute of play, following a defensive error from Tochukwu
Ogbiji.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Richard Odoh made an effort to block
the ball aiming for the back of the net, but without much power in that
attempt, the ball fell at the penalty area and needed Ogboji to clear but an
indecisive attempt gave Camara the chance.
Ogboji also adjudged to have fouled Lassina Traore in the 18
yard box and penalty was given against Nduka Ugbade’s tutored side at the 57th
minute.
Camara converted to increase the goal tally for his side.
Nigeria however responded 10 minutes later via a tap in by
Abubakar Abdullahi to reduce the goal deficit for the home team.
Abdullahi’s effort was not enough to see the Golden Eaglets
through as the game finished in Favour of their opponents.
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