The Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates has reached the semi-final stage. The four teams that qualified for the last four were determined on Saturday, with Nigeria securing a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. The Golden Eaglets will be the sole representatives of the continent in the semi-finals, following the eliminations of Tunisia, Morocco, and Ivory Coast.
In the group stages, Sweden and Nigeria had already faced each other in what proved to be one of the most challenging matches for Manu Garba’s team. Falling behind 2-0 early in the game, the young Nigerians staged a remarkable comeback, resulting in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Ahead of the semi-final clash, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu acknowledged the difficulty of their previous encounter, stating, “I wasn’t myself. I missed my exit on the opening score, and that weighed me down for the rest. After this first goal, I was a little lost. Before I could get back into the match, I was called upon again and everything went wrong.”
The second semi-final will feature a South American duel between Argentina and Mexico. Argentina had previously faced African teams in the eighth and quarter-finals, eliminating Tunisia and Ivory Coast, respectively. On the other side, Mexico, the reigning world champion, secured their place by defeating Brazil.
Semi-final Schedule on November 5:
1:00 p.m.: Argentina – Mexico
4:00 p.m.: Nigeria – Sweden
