Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets on Saturday in Niamey booked a semi-final place at the ongoing 11th African Under-17 Championship in Niger Republic.
The Eaglets defeated Junior Chipolopolo of Zambia 3-1 in their last Group A match at the Municipal Stadium to top the group.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result also helped them in securing a ticket to the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
The Nigerian team started the game on a good note with Victor Osimhen opening scoring 10 minutes into the match.
Team captain Kelechi Nwakali increased the team’s lead in the 45th minute.
The Zambians who appeared to be no match for the Nigerian side had their woes compounded when Osimhen completed his brace in the 47th minute.
Paston Daka however penetrated Nigeria’s defenceline in the 61st minute to score the team’s only goal in the match and reduce the deficit.
The Eaglets thus topped Group A with seven points from three matches while Guinea were second with four points after losing 1-2 to hosts Niger Republic in their match.
It thus left Zambia and Niger with three points each, from one win and two losses in three matches each.
The Eaglets and Guinea thus qualified for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, alongside the other semi-finalists from Group B who will emerge after Sunday’s matches.
The Eaglets will face one of the two qualifiers from Group B on Wednesday in the semi-finals.
Sunday’s matches have South Africa up against Cameroon, while Cote D’Ivoire will face Mali in their last Group B matches in Niamey.
The four semi-finalists at the eight-team tournament will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile later in the year.
The continental tournament is expected to end on March 1.
