The Golden Eaglets’ adventure at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end on Thursday following a 2-1 defeat to West African rivals, Burkina Faso.
Aboubacar Camara’s goal in each of the half of the encounter broke the hearts of Nigerians as Abubakar Abdullahi’s 67th-minute effort stood as a consolation for Nduka Ugbade’s team.
The defeat shatters lots of ambitions for Ugbade’s team which Afrosport reviews below:
No sixth U17 World Cup title
Nigeria are the most successful country in the FIFA U-17 World Cup having won the title in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015).
A new set of Golden Eaglets will have to wait for the next U17 World Cup edition in 2025 to extend their dominance in the age-grade tournament.
No third U17 AFCON title
The Golden Eaglets’ trophy drought in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations continues, with their last success dating back to 2007.
The third time in the history of the continental competition, Nigeria have failed to make it to the semi-final stage.
The last time they didn’t advance into the U17 AFCON last-four was in Gambia 2005 where they were eliminated in the Group stage.
Ugbade under fire
The disappointing exit of the Golden Eaglets in Algeria clearly puts head coach Nduka Ugbade under fire with the team failing to meet their two targets – qualify for U17 World Cup and win the U17 AFCON.
Despite the cancellation of a training trip to Germany, the Nigeria Football Federation gave Ugbade the needed support with a series of warm-up games in Nigeria.
The former Remo Stars and defunct MFM FC head coach was an assistant coach in the 2013 FIFA World Cup winning squad.
Goodbye to the young team
Nigeria is clearly known for and the boys will now need to nurture their career by themselves with only a few that will make it to the U-20 national team,
The current Golden Eaglets did not meet their objectives to carry on and they will most likely be disbanded for a new set of young stars.
