The Golden Eaglets today played out a scoreless draw with Burkina Faso in a tight physical contest to open their campaign in the WAFU B U17 AFCON qualifying tournament in Accra, Ghana.
It was a keenly contested first half with both teams giving as much as they got in this Group B clash, which could have gone either way.
Striker Rapha Adams shot directly at the Burkina Faso goalkeeper after just five minutes of action.
The Burkinabes were denied the opening goal by goalkeeper Chinedu Dominic, when in the 17th minute he parried for a corner a goal-bound shot.
Nigeria’s best chance was in the 26th minute, when midfielder Abdulmuiz Oladimeji failed to make hay after he was set up by the impressive skipper Simon Cletus.
Moments later, the bigger-looking Junior Stallions again threatened the Nigerian goal, but somehow the Eaglets kept out the danger.
Midway through the second half, skipper Cletus ought to have put his team ahead when he found himself through on goal, but he chose to pass the ball rather than shoot for glory.
Late in the game, both teams played under difficult conditions when the rains poured down and made the pitch almost unplayable.
Burkina Faso were saved by their post in the dying moments as Nigeria pressed for the go-ahead goal.
Golden Eaglets Starting XI vs Burkina Faso (4-3-3): Chinedu Dominic – Sylvester Chika, Daniel Mendie, Abdulwaris Yunus, Boluwatife Ekishola – Destiny Samuel (John Ogwuche), Abdulmuiz Oladimeji, Simon Cletus (Captain) – Imrana Muhammad (Abdulmuiz Adeleke), Rapha Adams, Ibrahim Abdulganiyu
