Ghana’s U17 Group Opponents Nigeria & Ivory Coast Clash In Final – Baby Elephants Favourites

Posted On Thursday, 25th April 2013

Ghana’s African U17 Championship group opponents will meet Nigeria and Ivory Coast will meet in the final of the competition on Saturday.

CAF final

Ghana’s African U17 Championship group opponents will meet Nigeria and Ivory Coast will meet in the final of the competition on Saturday. 

Golden Eaglets reached the final after defeating Tunisia 4-2 in Marrakech in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

The U17 Caf final looms and just like with the senior teams in South Africa, it will be an all-West African affair.

Nigeria arguably the flashiest team in the tournament and most prolific scoring one with 13 goals, faces a sound Ivorian team that has two things in their favour.

First they have already beaten the Eaglets in the round robin stages 1-0 when they did what the other two teams that faced Nigeria could not.

They took away the Eaglets space and effectively contained their big guns in Success and Ihenancho.

Secondly the Ivorians have never lost to Nigeria at this level. They also nipped the birds 3-2 in 2005 when they met.

Nevertheless Coach Garba still fancies his chances after already securing a World Cup berth.

Speaking to supersport.com he said: “We are determined to win and have learnt from our first game.

“The Ivorians are an excellent team with great stamina but eventually we will prevail. This has nothing to do with revenge we just want to be African Champions like our Men’s team.”

Meanwhile the Baby Elephants remain unfazed.

Forward Niangbo just hopes he scores earlier than in the last minute when he sank the Nigerians on the 17th.

The final takes place tomorrow in Marrakesh.