Nigeria’s Yahaya Lawali makes CAF U17 AFCON team of the tournament 

By Wale Mustapha

Despite crashing out in the quarterfinal, Nigeria’s U17 boy’s national team were able to have a representative at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 African Cup of Nations, AFCON team of the tournament.

The best XI players of the competition announced by the confederation’s Technical Study Group, TSG on Sunday has the assistant captain of Golden Eaglets, Yahaya Lawali in the mix.

Lawali, a product of Mahanaim Football Academy stood tall among his peers winning two man of the match awards in the group stage of the competition. His contribution was however not enough to see Nigeria make it to the semifinal thereby failed to make it to the FIFA U17 World Cup.

The Best XI of the competition was dominated by eventual winners, Senegal who had four players in the set up including their goalkeeper, Serigne Diouf who exhibited exceptional skills, conceding only two goals throughout the tournament.

The Teranga cubs also had the trio of the tournament’s top scorer, Amara Diouf, Abdou Aziz Fall and defender Serigne Diouf.

Runners up of the competition, Morocco had only Hamid Eid in the best XI while Mali can boast of two players in Sekou Kone and Mamadou Doumbia.

Burkina Faso who finished as best third placed team had three players in the competition’s best XI with left back Lacina Traoré, Rachid Ouedraogo and the tournament’s best player, Souleymane Alio.

Senegal came back from a goal down to beat Morocco 2-1 in the final played on Friday.