2023 U-17 AFCON: Burkina Faso End Golden Eaglets’ World Cup Qualification Dreams

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have crashed out of this 2023 U-17 AFCON in Algeria after they lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

The result means the Eaglets will not be at this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Burkina Faso complete Africa’s representatives at the World Cup after Senegal, Mali and Morocco booked their tickets.

The Eaglets had the first big chance of the game on eight minutes but Abubakar Abdullahi’s superb effort from outside the box hit the cross bar.

Seven minutes later Charles Agada saw his attempt also come off the woodwork from six yards.

But in the 44th minute Burkina Faso went 1-0 up through Aboubakar Camara who pounced following a poor clearance by Tochukwu Ogboji.

The Eaglets came out fired up for the second half but could not break down a resolute Burkina Faso side.

In the 56th minute they doubled their lead as Camara converted from the penalty spot.

Abubakar then pulled a goal back for the Eaglets in the 68th minute which turned out to be a consolation strike as the Burkinabes held on to seal qualification.

2023 U-17 AFCON: Ugbade Hails Players Despite Defeat To Burkina Faso

Golden Eaglets head coach Nduka Ugbade has said his players gave their all and does not fault them following their 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the quarter-final fixture of the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s hope of a third title and qualification to the FIFA World Cup was thwarted following the defeat, and Ugbade has now been left to pick the pieces of their broken hearts.

“The players are disappointed of course because they are young but we must support them because they need to continue their careers. We should work on their development because I believe that some of these players will eventually move to the senior national team,” the tactician said after the defeat to Burkina Faso.

He adds; “I am happy with the performance of our players and in such competitions, even if you lose, you gain something by developing the players for the future.”

Looking back at the defeat to Burkina Faso, Ugbade says they would have had a different result were they more clinical infront of goal.

“Everything worked as we had planned, but we could not score with the chances we had. We paid dearly for that. We learn the lessons and move on,” he said.

2023 U-17 AFCON: We Committed Lots Of Mistakes Against Burkina Faso —Golden Eaglets Keeper, Odoh

Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Richard Odoh has attributed the team’s ouster from the U-17 AFCON in the hands of Burkina Faso to mistakes.

In Thursday’s quarter-finals the Eaglets lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso to exit this year’s edition.

Abukabar Abdullahi reduced the deficit on 68 minutes after Burkina Faso raced to a 2-0 lead.

But it was not enough to as the Burkinabes held on to progress into the semi-finals where they will face Senegal.

Speaking after the disappointment of crashing out of the competition, Odoh explained that the Eaglets did everything possible to get back into the game but paid dearly for their first half errors.

“We did a lot of mistakes in the first half but we tried to comeback stronger in the second half but the chance didn’t come,” he said on Brila FM.

“God knows the best for each of us right here and believe we will do our best in the next level where we are going.”

The defeat to Burkina Faso means the Eaglets will not be at this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali and Morocco will now represent Africa at the World Cup.

thundafire:
The boys tried but signs were der they can't win any tournament. NFF really need to stop all their nonsense of picking players based on money

pak:
I would have criticized Ugbade for falling short but I remember seeing the pictures of the Eaglets and they were truly young.

I prefer going with real U17 and losing, at least they can improve and win in future...

Rather than going with Uncles and winning the junior world cup, only for the players to hit their peak at 21 and then retire from injuries by 25