)
Nigeria's Golden Eaglets got knocked out of the competition on Thursday, following a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals.
Golden Eaglets' Yahaya Lawali has been named by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the Best XI team of the group stage of the 2023 U-17 African Cup of Nations.
CAF, through its Technical Study Group, made the announcement on Saturday, as the competition prepares to enter its semifinal stage.
)
22:00 - 11.05.2023
U17 AFCON: Wasteful Golden Eaglets to miss World Cup after shocking Burkina Faso defeat
Nigeria's Golden Eaglets have failed to qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup after a shocking defeat to Burkina Faso in the U17 AFCON.
U-17 AFCON Group Stage Best XI
The 11-man list features Bourama Kone in goal. The youngster so far has kept three clean sheets in the competition and possesses the highest save percentage rate thus far.
In the right back of the defence features Yahaya Lawali who was the only Golden Eaglets star that made it to the elite list. Burkina Faso’s Lassina Traore was selected chosen as the best left-back so far, while the duo of Senegal’s Fallou Diouf and Morocco’s skipper Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal were named as the best two centre-backs.
Adam Chakir of Morocco, who has been instrumental for the Atlas Cubs, Angel Martial Tia of Mali, who scored the first goal against Congo in the quarterfinals, and Abiga, one of the Wumba Niati twins from the Congo, make up the midfield trio.
The attack comprises of Senegal's captain Amara Diouf, Burkina Faso’s Souleymane Alio and Mali’s Mamadou Doumbia. Already, Alio boasts of two goals in the tournament, Doumbia three, while Diouf has scored five goals so far, breaking Victor Osimhen’s 2015 goal-scoring record of four.
)
06:22 - 13.05.2023
Don't abandon these Eaglets — Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo 'warns' NFF
Nigeria Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo believes there are so many bright talents in the Golden Eaglets that must not be neglected despite a sad exit from the U-17 AFCON.
Golden Eaglets can be developed, Ugbade says
Meanwhile, Golden Eaglets' head coach Nduka Ugbade has revealed that he is not entirely disappointed despite Nigeria's failure to pick a ticket to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Golden Eaglets were on Thursday, knocked out of the competition, following a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal stage.
“I am happy with the performance of our players,” Ugbade said moments after the game per CAF Online. “In such competitions, even if you lose, you gain something by developing the players for the future,” Ugbade stated, adding that his players were disappointed.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)