U17 AFCON: Senegal coach reveals why Nigeria failed to excel in Algeria

By Wale Mustapha

Head Coach of Senegal’s U17 boys national team, Salio Dia has attributed impatience for the early elimination of the Nigeria U17 boy’s team from the U17 African Cup of Nations, in Algeria.

The Golden Eaglets lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal of the tournament thereby missing out of qualification to the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup and losing their bid to celebrate a third continental success.

Dia is leading the Teranga Cubs of Senegal to the U17 AFCON final against Morocco which defines another key milestone in his country’s football history, having dominated all categories of African football in the last two years.

When asked at a news conference, Dia admitted that the Nigerian team were made of talented youngsters but were more anxious to score and win games rather than follow the methods to do so.

“The problem with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets at this tournament was that the team was in too much of a hurry to score and win games, rather than build up methodically,” the Senegalese tactician told CAFOnline.com.

“They have quality players in the team and I’m sure they will become stars in the future.”