Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets conceded their first defeat at the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-0 loss to Morocco in Constantine on Wednesday evening.
Both sides came into the game on the back of their victories against Zambia and South Africa in their Group B opening games.
The Moroccans began on the front foot right from the get go and their early efforts paid dividends as they scored as early as the second minute.
The North Africans worked out a cross from the right hand channel which Eaglets defender Tochukwu Ogboji put in his own net.
The Eaglets struggled to create clear-cut opportunities but the best of half chances fell to forward Abubakar Abdullahi who failed to take advantage of any, especially a glorious chance in the 21st minute which he blazed over the bar from inside the 18 yard box.
The Moroccans also had a good chance to double their lead before halftime but Adnane El Ahmer shot straight into the keeper’s hands.
The Eaglets could also have equalised before the break as they orchestrated a brilliant interchange of passes on the edge of the box before a shot was well blocked by a Moroccan defender.
The Eaglets returned with all kinds of threats in the second half especially after the hour mark when scorer of the lone goal against Zambia, Favour Daniel flashed his shot across the face of goal on two occasions.
Nduka Ugbade’s men continued to mount pressure on the Moroccans even through set piecee, one of which defender Emmanuel Michaels came close to converting in the 63rd minute.
Right fullback Yahaya Lawali also came close to scoring after good progression with the ball into the danger zone but put his shot inches a ove the crossbar in the 69th minute.
The Eaglets had decent chances to convert in the last ten minutes through substitutes Quadri Adewale and Light Eke who had a shot inside the box parried by the Moroccan goalkeeper in the 85th minute.
FULL-TIME! ⏰
Morocco take all three points to go top of group B ????#TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/qZDVnsAlwB
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 ???? (@CAF_Online) May 3, 2023
The result now means Morocco are through to the quarter finals with a game to spare while the Golden Eaglets have to win their last group game against South Africa on Saturday to progress into the last eight.
