U17 AFCON Nigeria 1 Zambia 0 : Daniel scores game-winner for five-time world champs 

Nigeria began a quest for a third U-17 Africa Cup of Nations title in Algeria on Sunday evening with a 1-0 win over Zambia. 

The Eaglets attacked early in the game and swarmed on the Zambian but Abubakar Abdullahi who went to the ground in the second minute of the match was not deemed to have been fouled by the referee. 

The Nigerians continued their threat and were the likely team to score first but a 10th minute long range strike by left back Emmanuel Michael went narrowly wide off target. 

Abdullahi had a 14th minute goal chalked off for offside as he  went too early to pick up a pass before rifling past Zambia keeper Shadrick Kalyati.

Abdullahi was also close to being on the scoresheet three minutes later with a header from inside the Zambian box but Kalyati first clawed away the ball before gathering it on a second attempt. 

Left back Michael gave away the ball a couple of times, the second proving to be risky as the Zambians gained momentum. 

Precious Williams' effort hit the wooodwork in the 40th minute and trhee minutes later, the junior Chipolopolo had their first shot on target towards the end of the first half when Emmanuel Mwanza's effort came off the crossbar. 

Marcel Zimba went down rather too cheaply in the 45th minute in search of a soft penalty under the challenge of central defender Tochukwu Ogboji. 

Zimba's 50th minute shot went agonizingly wide to the relief of coach Nduka Ugbade who was apparently not happy with the way the second half began. 

Nigeria's Favour Daniel skied his shot wide after an hour played from a position of promise at the edge of the box while Zambia saw their own chance wasted from close range. 

Abdullahi's header in the 65th minute went close to becoming the probable match winning goal but the bobbled out of touch. 

The Eaglets finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute as Favour Daniel struck the ball into the bottom left corner from close range after the Nigerians initially remonstrated for a penalty call. 

Joseph Liteta fired a good shot that missed target by whiskers as the east Africans came close to restoring parity. 

Substitute Light Eke should have doubled the advantage in second half stoppage time but missed from the spot with a tame effort. 

Izuchukwu Michael
    

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