By: Abiodun Adewale
Amid the uncertainty of qualifying for the 2025 U-17 AFCON, Nigeria and hosts Ghana will go head-to-head in the third-place playoff of the ongoing WAFU B U-17 Championship at the University of Ghana Stadium on Tuesday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria and Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 tournament after they were beaten in the semi-finals.
Ghana lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso while Ivory Coast edged Nigeria 1-0 as well.
However, both sides are still hoping there would be one or more spots for the U-17 AFCON with the Confederation of African Football yet to clarify how many teams will qualify from the zone for the continental showpiece.
With the West African Football Union also unable to provide clarity on the number of teams that will proceed to the 2025 Africa U-17 AFCON from WAFU B, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi, charged the Golden Eaglets not to leave anything to chance against the hosts.
“We are still awaiting clarity on the number of teams that will qualify to the U-17 AFCON from this tournament. Some people have said only three teams; some said four teams. It is therefore important that our boys go out there and play their hearts out to finish in third place.
“The Black Starlets will not be an easy ride. They are the home side and they will bank on the support of the fans. But our boys have what it takes to achieve victory.”
The third-place match kicks off at 3pm Ghanaian time (4pm Nigerian time) at the University of Ghana Stadium ahead of the final match between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, which commences at 6pm Ghanaian time (7pm Nigerian time).