Following a stalemate in their opener against Burkina Faso, the Golden Eaglets earned their first victory in the WAFU Zone B U-17 AFCON qualifiers with a 1-0 success against Niger.
With Oreoluwa Agbenla and Abdul Muiz Adeleke being handed their first start, coach Manu Garba made two changes to the team that started against Burkina Faso.
Garba’s changes almost paid off immediately from the start of the game as Adeleke got the defending champions opening chance but failed to convert the opportunity.
The Eaglets wasted another glorious chance four minutes after as no one connected with Rapha Adams’ delightful cross into the dangerous area.
There was however a nervy moment for Nigeria in the 27th minute as Niger created their chance as well to test the Eaglets’ goalkeeper but the effort went over the crossbar.
The nervy moment was a wake-up call for the Eaglets.
Adams scored a powerful header in the 31st minute to hand Nigeria their first win of the tournament.
The striker almost doubled the lead seven minutes later but he dragged his shot wide to keep the score 1-0 heading into the first half.
Nigeria started the second half in the same fashion as the first half, with Adams and Adeleke threatening to score but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Garba’s lads’ job was even made more difficult as they were reduced to 10 men after Okorie Chibuike was shown a red card in the 63rd minute.
Niger came close to scoring from the corner kick in the 73rd minute, but the resulting header couldn’t be directed towards goal.
With this win, the five-time world champions have moved up to four points, level with Burkina Faso, setting up a thrilling finale in Group B on Wednesday. The Eaglets will face Togo, the group’s bottom team, at the Accra Sports Stadium, while Burkina Faso will take on Niger Republic, who have three points, at the University of Accra Stadium
A draw against Togo on Wednesday will seal the Eaglets’ place in the last four of the competition.
