Nigeria U17 vs Morocco U17: Match preview, expectations and permutations

The race for one of the African tickets to the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup continues on Wednesday with Nigeria tackling their Moroccan counterparts in their second game of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria.

Nigeria will take on Morocco in their second group B game at the ongoing 2023 U17 AFCON at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui, today at 5 noon Nigeria time.

A win for Nigeria in today’s game in Constantine will guarantee the Golden Eaglets’ qualification to the quarterfinals, which is a game close to the U17 World Cup.

The two sides will go head-to-head in a crucial Group B encounter today which will go a long way in determining who finishes top of the group.

Both teams won their opening games, but Morocco are currently top of the group B due to their superior goal difference, with the West Africans pipping Zambia 1-0, while the Moroccans beat South Africa 2-0.

However, it is the first time both countries will be meeting at this level. The Golden Eaglets have won the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations twice, while the Atlas Cubs have never won the tournament, so they will be looking to pull off upset.

As a 12-nation tournament, the first two top-placed teams in each of the three groups will advance to the quarterfinals, alongside the best two third-placed teams.

The quarterfinal matches will produce the four semifinalists, who will also automatically qualify as Africa’s representatives at this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup finals.

In charge of the match is Malian referee, Ousmane Diakate, who will be assisted by Queency Clodia Victoire from Mauritius and Cape Verde’s Djêry Gomes Lopes, while Ben Amisy Tsimanohitsy from Madagascar will serve as the fourth official.

Eritrea’s Negash Teklit Negassi is the match commissioner with Raphael Evehe Divine from Cameroun as referee assessor, while Gabonese Eric Otogo Castane will be the general coordinator.