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.
22:47 - 08.05.2023
U-17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets leave Constantine, arrive Algiers for quarterfinal with Burkina Faso
Nigeria finished in second place to Morocco with 6 points, after wins over Zambia and South Africa.
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.”
10:45 - 07.05.2023
3 things you MISSED from Nigeria's thrilling clash against South Africa
Nigeria and South Africa wrote another chapter in their football history, this time it was a five-goal thriller at the U17 AFCON, but what was your major highlight?
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.