AFRICAN U17 CHAMPIONSHIP: NIGERIA, GUINEA, SOUTH AFRICA AND MALI QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP

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Nigeria and Guinea stormed the semi-finals of the CAF Under-17 championships in Niger after finishing first and second respectively as Group 'A' play was concluded on Saturday.

Nigeria vs Zambia 
Nigeria beat Zambia 3-1 at the Stade Municipal to finish on seven points and grab the group's top spot. Hosts Niger handed Guinea a 2-1 defeat at the Stade Seyni Kountche but the four points collected in the first two group games were enough to see the Syli National juniors finish second. Zambia and Niger finished on three points each having won one and lost two fixtures respectively.

At the Kountche, the hosts ensured that they finished the tournament on a high with two first half goals; the first as early as the second minute when Issoufou Boubabcar grabbed the opener after a good run into the Guinea box. Ismael Lara restored the hosts' advantage on 39minutes to the delight of the home crowd after Guinea goalkeeper Djibril Yattara failed to collect a loose ball inside the box. Abdoulaye Keita had put Guinea on levels terms after 27minutes.

The second half saw no goals at the Stade Kountche but across the city at the Municipal, Nigeria and Zambia battled in a match which saw four goals; Nigeria skipper Kelechi Nwakali with a goal either side of a Victor Osimeh's brace.
Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke during the press conference 

Zambia skipper Patson Daka grabbed Chipolopolo juniors' consolation but the tournament debutants did not turn into goals all their second half chances to threaten Nigeria's lead.

The bonus of the semi-finals placement at the CAF junior championship is a place at the FIFA U17 world cup finals set for Chile in October this year.

In the group match played on Sunday, Mali and South Africa also won their respective games to join Nigeria and Guinea to the U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Boubacar Traore grabbed his third goal of the CAF U17 championships with a calm finish on 34 minutes to lead Mali to a 1-0 win over defending champions Cote d'Ivoire, a victory which sealed their top spot in Group B and a semi-final date against Group 'A' runners-up Guinea. The result ended the 2013 winners' interest in the Niger tournament. Across the city at the Stade Seyni Kountche, South Africa's Amajimbos beat Cameroon 3-1 to move to five points and finish second behind Mali's young eagles.

Cameroonian goalkeeper looked in despair as the ball rolled past him
Amajimbos' win set them for a semi-final clash against Nigeria's Golden Eaglets and also sealed their FIFA Under-17 World Cup Chile 2015 place. Africa's line-up for Chile will therefore be Nigeria, Mali, South Africa and Guinea.

At the Stade Municipal, Mali was dominant with several missed chances which could have seen them win by more than one goal. Aly Malle, Mohammed Haidara, Sekou Koita and Sidiki Maiga all missed glorious chances to add to Traore's goal. The baby elephants, who played a man down in the second half following the sending off of Romaric Kone, could also not convert their best chances which fell for Idrissa Doumbia and Baba Lamine Trarore.

Fokem Achielle's own goal on three minutes and a brace by skipper Nelson Maluleke, first from the spot and a beautiful finish after excellent play by Amajimbos handed South Africa a big win against Cameroon. Christian Bayemi got Cameroon's consolation as they exited the tournament without a point.


Semi-final fixtures
25 February - Stade Seyni Kountche: Nigeria vs South Africa
26 February - Stade Seyni Kountche: Mali vs Guinea



Akin' Odunsi
@gr8akin


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