“This is the biggest match of their lives” – Golden Eaglets charged to go for broke in career-defining clash versus Ivory Coast

An Afcon qualifying ticket is on the road when Nigeria’s cadet workforce takes on their Ivorian counterpart in Ghana on Tuesday

Head coach Nduka Ugbade has referred to as on the Golden Eaglets to place of their finest in opposition to Cote d’Ivoire as it’s a match that might resolve how far a lot of them go of their soccer careers.

Nigeria will face defending champions Cote d’Ivoire on the Gold Coast Stadium on Tuesday within the semifinal of the WAFU B CAF u-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Ghana.

The Golden Eaglets, with 100 per cent successful report, are the slight favourites in opposition to the Younger Elephants, who sneaked into the ultimate 4 after shedding two of their three group video games.

However the Ivorians are the championship’s defending champions, having defeated Nigeria 3-2 in final yr’s last in Togo.

Greater than exacting their revenge, the Golden Eaglets can guide a spot within the competitors’s last with a win over their West African brothers.

Solely the 2 finalists will make it to subsequent yr’s Afcon match correct in Algeria, the place the 4 highest-ranked groups qualify for the following version of the FIFA u-17 World Cup.

With a report 5 titles, Nigeria are probably the most profitable nation on the earth at that stage, with the nation’s final successful workforce producing the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, and CSKA Moscow’s Chidera Ejuke, amongst others.

Former Nigeria worldwide Ugbade understands the import of not making it to Algeria 2023, and he has charged his boys to battle for his or her lives and their careers after they take to the pitch in opposition to the Junior Elephants.

“The match in opposition to Cote d’Ivoire is of excessive significance to us,” Ugbade to the NFF.

“The truth is, I’ve reminded the gamers that this one is the most important match of their lives. They need to win to safe a ticket to the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, and from there to the U17 World Cup, and from there to a number of alternatives and prospects.

“No matter we’ve accomplished right here (beating Ghana and Togo) won’t imply a lot if we don’t go all out and seize our ticket to the AFCON and the Remaining. We’ll throw every part into the fray.”

Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will slug it out on the pitch of the 15,000–capability Cape Coast facility at 3 pm Ghana time (4 pm Nigeria time) earlier than the second semi-final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso on the identical venue.