U-17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets boss Ugbade says new lesson learnt for Burkina Faso game
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Golden Eaglets boss Nduka Ugbade

U-17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets boss Ugbade says new lesson learnt for Burkina Faso game

Jidechi Chidiezie 19:55 - 09.05.2023

The West African nations will on Thursday in Algiers, attempt to make the semifinal of the 12-team competition, as well as, qualify for the U-17 World Cup.

Head coach of Nigeria's U-17 team Nduka Ugbade has revealed ahead of his side's 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations quarterfinal clash with Burkina Faso, that the Golden Eaglets are ready for challenges.

The West African nations will on Thursday, and at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, slug it out for a place in the semifinal of the 12-team competition.

Ugbade says Golden Eaglets not going home yet

Reacting to their all-important encounter, Ugbade who lead the side to a runner-up finish in Group B - behind Morocco, stated that his team had not come this far to drop out of the competition.

“The quarterfinal matches will be very hard nuts to crack because that is the step that earns you the World Cup ticket," Ugbade said ahead of Thursday's game.

“We had an interesting match with South Africa and it has prepared us well for further challenges in the competition. We learnt a lot playing Zambia, Morocco and South Africa – all strong teams – in the group phase and that was a good furnace for us to be a better squad.

"Our interest is now Burkina Faso, and we are working hard towards achieving success. We have not come this far to drop out. My boys are focused hard on the World Cup ticket. After that, we can then focus on other objectives.”

U-17 World Cup ticket wait Nigeris vs Bukina Faso winner

Burkina Faso are like Nigeria, former champions of the U-17 AFCON having won the competition in Rwanda in 2011. The Golden Eaglets on their part, won the competition on two occasions, in 2001 and 2007.

Victory over Burkina Faso will earn Nigeria the opportunity to go for a record-extending 6th FIFA U-17 World Cup title, having emerged as world champions in 1985, 1993, 2008, 2013 and 2015.