Izuchukwu Okosi
Five players of the victorious Golden Eaglets side that defeated Burkina Faso 2-1 in the final of the West African Football Union (WAFU) U-17 sub regional tournament in Cape Coast, Ghana on Friday evening has made the ‘Team of the Tournament’ reports Prime Business Africa.
The quintet of Yahaya Lawali, Richard Udoh, Jeremiah Oladele, Emmanuel Michael and Idriss Abubakar made the cut in a team of eleven players.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelYahaya Lawal was voted the best right-back of the tournament, Richard Udoh scooped the prize for the best goalkeeper, Jeremiah Oladele was one of the best centre backs alongside Burkina Faso’s Yameogo.
Emmanuel Michael was the dead ball specialist and unarguably the best in his position at left back. He scored three free kicks from his position and Idriss Abubakar completes the Nigerian contingent.
Players from other countries who made the list include: Yameogo (central defence, Burkina Faso), Diomande (right wing, CIV), Outorou (Central midfield, Benin Republic), Quattara (Central midfield, Burkina Faso), Camara (left wing, Burkina Faso) and Yamis Ali (Centre forward, Niger Republic).
Nigeria’s coach Nduka Ugbade who won the FIFA U-16 World Cup in West Germany as a player in the maiden edition of the cadet World Cup in 1985 was acknowledged as the coach of the best team.
Nigeria and Burkina Faso by reaching the final of the tournament have qualified for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria in February 2023 where the semifinalists will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
