U-17 AFCON: CAF names Golden Eaglets 'Fairplay Team of the Group Stage'

The Golden Eaglets have failed in their quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

U-17 AFCON: CAF names Golden Eaglets 'Fairplay Team of the Group Stage'

Jidechi Chidiezie 23:29 - 13.05.2023

Nigeria were eliminated from the competition following a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal, ending the Golden Eaglets bid to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Despite crashing out at the quarter-final stage, CAF's Technical Study Group have named Nigeria's Golden Eaglets as the Fair Play Team of the group stage at the ongoing 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria were eliminated from the competition on Thursday following a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal stage, ending the Golden Eaglets bid to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Nigeria named Fairplay team of group stage

In a series of mid-tournament special recognitions, CAF revealed that the already eliminated Golden Eaglets are the Fairplay team of the group stages.

Nigeria's group stage campaign had started out with a 1-0 victory over Zambia thanks to a 76th-minute goal by Favour Daniel. The second group game then saw the Golden Eaglets concede an early goal against Morocco, eventually losing 1-0 to go second.

Goals from Charles Agada, Light Eke and Abubakar Abdullahi in the final group match against South Africa, then helped the Golden Eaglets to a runner-up finish in Group B, behind the Moroccans, enough to set up a quarterfinal pairing with 2017 champions Burkina Faso.

Golden Eaglets captain receives recognition

Defender and captain of the Golden Eaglets Yahaya Lawali was the only Nigerian play named, as CAF listed the Best XI of the U-17 AFCON group stage.

Other mid-tournament awards saw Senegal's Serigne Mbacke get named as the best coach of the group stage, Bourama Kone as the goalkeeper, and Senegal's Amara Diouf as the best player, so far.

Diouf with five goals so far, has surpassed Victor Osimhen’s 2015 goal-scoring record of four.

The tournament after observing a two-day hiatus will continue on Sunday, May 14, with Senegal playing Burkina Faso in the first semifinal, and Morocco playing Mali in the latter.

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