Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, started their campaign at the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory against Zambia.
The match, held at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui in Constantine, saw Favour Daniel score the winning goal for the Nigerian side 14 minutes from time.
Despite dominating the game, Nigeria were denied multiple times by an impressive performance from Zambian goalkeeper, Shedrack Kalyati.
The victory marks a positive start for the Golden Eaglets, who hope to reclaim their position as the dominant force in African youth football.
Expectations are high for this year’s squad, led by Coach Nduka Ugbade, are eager to secure its third African title since 2007. With a record 10 tournament appearances, the Golden Eaglets are no strangers to the competition. However, the last few years have seen misses and near misses for the Nigerian team.
But the team is expected to deliver a triumphant U-17 AFCON campaign and World Cup qualification.
The team is made up of fresh young talents sourced from secondary schools and academies across Nigeria. Their recent victory at the West African Football Union (WAFU) tournament demonstrated their potential, and they are now aiming to lift the trophy at the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
The Golden Eaglets will face Morocco in their next game at Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui on Wednesday.
