Rapha Adams Secures Victory for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in WAFU Zone B Under-17 Championship
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Niger Republic at the ongoing WAFU Zone B Under-17 Championship in Ghana, thanks to a lone goal from Rapha Adams.
The match, held at the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday evening, was Nigeria’s second game in the tournament. Coming off a disappointing draw against Burkina Faso, coach Manu Garba promised an improved performance and made two changes to the starting lineup to bolster the attack.
Nigeria dominated the first half but struggled to connect effectively between midfield and attack, hindered further by the poor turf conditions. Despite these challenges, the Golden Eaglets created several opportunities and capitalized on a defensive error in the 31st minute. Rapha Adams seized the moment, heading in a goal from close range to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
Niger Republic nearly equalized in the 42nd minute when Mohammed Bourdia’s close-range strike hit the crossbar. The first half ended with Nigeria holding onto their slim advantage.
The second half saw Niger Republic ramping up their efforts for an equalizer. Their pressure intensified, leading to a foul by Okorie Chibuike just outside the box, resulting in his dismissal from the match. Niger’s Mukhtar sent a powerful free-kick towards goal, but Nigerian goalkeeper Dominic Chinedu made a stunning save to maintain the lead.
Despite being a man down, the Golden Eaglets showcased impressive resilience and defensive solidity, fending off the persistent attacks from Niger Republic. Their steadfast defense ensured the match ended 1-0 in favor of Nigeria.
With this victory, Nigeria now has four points from two games and needs just one point from their upcoming match against Togo on Wednesday to secure a spot in the knockout phase.
