Golden Eaglets coach Manu Garba has vowed that his team will strive for victory in tomorrow’s bronze medal match against hosts Ghana at the WAFU B U17 tournament in Accra.
Both Nigeria and Ghana missed the opportunity to qualify for the forthcoming CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after losing their semi-final matches to Cote d’Ivoire (1-0) and Burkina Faso (2-1) respectively.
Despite the setback, Garba remains optimistic about the possibility of securing a place in the U17 AFCON, given rumors that CAF may expand the number of participating teams.
He expressed regret over the missed opportunities in the match against Cote d’Ivoire, stating, “We lost gallantly to Cote d’Ivoire but it was a game we should have won if we had converted some of the chances created.”
Garba emphasized the importance of the bronze medal match against Ghana, noting that a third-place finish might still offer a pathway to the U17 AFCON due to the expansion of the FIFA U17 World Cup.
“We are going to play host Ghana for a third-place finish,” Garba said.
“The number of teams to qualify still depends on what CAF will say since Africa is to present about nine or ten teams in the next World Cup and 48 countries are to participate.”
Golden Eaglets’ media officer, Francis Achi, also hinted at the possibility of qualifying through a third-place finish.
“It is likely that three teams will qualify from WAFU Zone B for the U17 AFCON,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “There is still all to play for in the third-place game against Ghana.”
The Black Starlets will face Nigeria without their head coach, Laryea Kingston, who resigned following their 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso.
For Tuesday’s third-place match, the team’s assistant coaches, supported by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) technical director, will take charge.
This crucial match offers both teams a chance to redeem themselves and potentially secure a spot in the U17 AFCON, making it a highly anticipated encounter for fans and players alike.