Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are now just 45 minutes away from another painful elimination from the U17 AFCON as they are losing 1-0 to Cote d’Ivoire.
This is the final three-team Group B match of the WAFU B qualifying series.
Nigeria must win today to stay alive in this competition, while defending champions Cote d’Ivoire need only a draw to advance to the semifinal after they drew 1-1 with Niger in the opening Group B match in Burkina Faso.
Cote d’Ivoire, who looked the more organised team from the off, took the lead in the 17th minute, when the Nigerian defense failed to clear the danger from a corner.
Before then, Nigeria, who made as many as five changes to the team that started in the 2-1 loss to Niger, looked bright and lively.
Godswill Usoro, who was the standout player for Nigeria, had a chance to score the opening goal in the ninth minute, but his curling effort missed the mark not by much.
The biggest chance of the first half fell to Mubarak Fasiu, who only had to tap home from a cross from the right in the 38th minute, but failed to do so.
He was the sub who scored the late consolation goal against Niger.
