U17 AFCON qualifier: Burkina Faso cage Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in opening match

Manu Garba promises winning start by Golden Eaglets

African U17 champion, the Golden Eaglets yesterday played out a scoreless draw with Burkina Faso in a tight physical contest to open their campaign in the WAFU B U17 AFCON qualifying tournament in Accra, Ghana.

It was a keenly contested first half with both teams giving as much as they got in this Group B clash.

Striker Rapha Adams shot directly at the Burkina Faso goalkeeper after just five minutes of action.

The Burkinabes were denied the opening goal by goalkeeper Chinedu Dominic, when in the 17th minute he parried for a corner a goal-bound shot.

Nigeria’s best chance was in the 26th minute, when Olademeji failed to make hay when he was set up by skipper Simon Cletus.

Moments later, the Junior Stallions again threatened the Nigerian goal but somehow the Eaglets kept out the danger.

Midway through the second half, skipper Cletus ought to have put his team ahead when he found himself through on goal, but he chooses to pass the ball rather than shoot at goal.

Both teams played under difficult conditions when the rains poured down and made the pitch almost unplayable.

Burkina Faso were saved by their post in the dying moments as Nigeria pressed for the go-ahead goal.

Others teams in Group B include Togo and Niger Republic.