Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire Seal Spots in U-17 AFCON Finals
Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have both booked their places in the final phase of the 2015 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, following dominant performances in the second legs of their respective qualifying ties on Saturday.
In Calabar, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets put on a spectacular display to overturn a first-leg deficit and dismantle Gabon 5-0. Trailing 2-1 from the opening leg, Emmanuel Amuneke’s side responded with ruthless efficiency, firing five unanswered goals past the Panthers to secure their ticket to the continental showpiece.
Midfield maestro Kelechi Nwakali led the charge with a brace, showcasing his creativity and composure in front of goal. He was matched by striker Osinachi Ebere, who also netted twice, tormenting the Gabonese defence throughout the match. Kehinde Ayinde completed the rout with a well-placed finish, sealing a 6-2 aggregate victory for the Flying Eagles, who are no strangers to the U-17 tournament’s latter stages.
Meanwhile, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s young Elephants delivered a similarly commanding performance, dispatching Angola 3-0 to progress 4-1 on aggregate. Following a tightly contested 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Ivorians took full control in the return match.
Baba Traoré emerged as the star of the evening, scoring twice — first just before the interval in the 45th minute, and again ten minutes into the second half. Jonas Nguessan added a third in the 77th minute, capping off a professional and confident display from the home side.
With their victories, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire join Zambia as the first three nations to officially qualify on the pitch for the final tournament, scheduled to take place from February 15 to March 1, 2015.
The triumphs underline the enduring strength of both countries in youth football. Nigeria, in particular, holds a storied history at U-17 level, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup four times. Côte d’Ivoire, though less decorated, continues to show promise with a generation of young players eager to make their mark on the continental stage.
The final tournament promises to be a showcase of the next generation of African football talent, and both Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire will be among the favourites when the action gets underway early next year.
