Golden Eaglets Battle Ready For U17 AFCON Qualifiers; Score More Than 100 Goals In 26 Friendlies

Published: August 29, 2018

Five-time world champions, Golden Eaglets, are fired up for the upcoming 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations West B Zone (WAFU-UFOA B) qualifiers scheduled to begin in the Republic of Niger on Sunday, September 2, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Manu Garba led side defeated Ituen Academy 3-1 in their final preparatory game on Tuesday, August 28 before their trip to the Nigerien capital, Niamey.

The Nigeria U17s played a total of 26 friendly matches and scored over 100 goals in those games, while conceding only 16 goals, an average of 0.62 goals per game.

They showed they are in good form heading into the tournament after winning 25 of their friendly matches, drawing only once.

Officials and players are now waiting for the green light from the Nigeria Football Federation before embarking on the trip to Niamey but their tentative date of departure is Friday or Saturday, in time for their first game of the tourney against Burkina Faso at the Stade Municipal, Niamey on September 3.

Twenty players, including a Bournemouth youth-team goalkeeper, have been named on the roster for the U17 AFCON qualifiers.

Ivory Coast and Benin Republic are Nigeria's other opponents in Group B and only the overall winner of the zonal qualifiers will qualify for the U17 AFCON that will hold in Tanzania in May next year.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: thenff.com