The Golden Eaglets are confident they will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup at the expense of sub-regional rivals Burkina Faso on Thursday evening May 11, 2023 in Algiers.
The winners of quarter final encounter between the two West African countries will book their passage to the World Cup.
This will be the second time within a year that both countries have clashed after the Nigerians stopped the Junior Stallions 2-1 in the final of the WAFU B U17 AFCON qualifiers in Ghana last June.
Striker Charles Agada, who is built like a bull, said the Eaglets hope to be more clinical in front of goal.
“We pray to play very well according to instructions of our coaches,” said the Mavlon FC star, who missed the WAFU qualifiers due to injury.
“Burkina Faso are a good team, but we are optimistic of winning by converting our chances into goals. We will work very hard to win the game.”
Burkina Faso, but the Eaglets are driven to qualify for the World Cup.
“We will not underrate Burkina Faso but play our game with a strong mentality to win,” vowed the striker, who scored twice in the WAFU Final last year.
“The game will not be easy no doubt about that, but we are focused on winning and qualifying for the World Cup.”
Coach Nduka Ugbade was clear the target tomorrow night is World Cup qualification.
“The quarterfinal matches will be very hard nuts to crack because that is the step that earns you the World Cup ticket. None of the four games will be easy,” he remarked.
“Our interest is 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.”
This West African Derby will kick off by 8pm inside the magnificent Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
Meanwhile, Senegal may be the popular favourites to win this year’s U17 AFCON in Algeria, but the stats show that it is the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria who have recorded the most shots at goal going into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The Eaglets delivered the highest number of shots at goal – 81 – in their three group games, while Senegal had 70 and Zambia 61.
However, the Junior Teranga Lions from Senegal were more efficient after they had 22 shots on target as against their Nigerian counterparts 21 shots.(58%) and Senegal (56.3%).
Coach Nduka Ugbade’s team also averaged the highest passes of the group stage – 457.8 passes.
But Senegal topped where it matters most – goals scored.
They scored seven goals ahead of South Africa (5 goals), Nigeria, Zambia and Morocco (4 goals).
Senegal also enjoyed the perfect record of winning all three matches and are yet to concede a goal thus far.
