Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mali will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup.
The four sides sealed their places following the conclusion of the quarter-final matches at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday.
The 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 19th edition of the biennial international men’s youth football tournament.
It is contested by 24 teams of the under-17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA from six confederations.
It will be held from Nov. 10 to Dec. 2 in a yet to be decided venue (initially Peru).
This edition marks the return of the tournament after a 4-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing FIFA to cancel the 2021 edition.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are the most successful team in the tournament having made eight appearances and winning a record, five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015).
They were also runners up on three occasions (1987, 2001 and 2009).
Nigeria are also two-time Africa U-17 Cup of Nations champions having won their first title in 2001, with their most recent title at the 2007 edition.
They were runners up on two occasions (1995, 2013) and finished third in 2003.
However, Eaglets will not be part of this year’s World Cup as they lost 1-2 to their Burkina Faso counterparts in the quarter finals of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Thursday.
In the match, Aboubacar Camara put the Burkina Faso team in the lead, at the 45th minute of play, following a defensive error from Tochukwu Ogbiji.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Richard Odoh made an effort to block the ball aiming for the back of the net, but without much power in that attempt, the ball fell at the penalty area and needed Ogboji to clear but an indecisive attempt gave Camara the chance.
Ogboji also adjudged to have fouled Lassina Traore in the 18 yard box and penalty was given against Nduka Ugbade’s tutored side at the 57th minute.
Camara converted to increase the goal tally for his side.
Nigeria however responded 10 minutes later via a tap in by Abubakar Abdullahi to reduce the goal deficit for the home team.
Abdullahi’s effort was not enough to see the Golden Eaglets through as the game finished in Favour of their opponents.
