Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets were defeated by their West African rivals Cote d’Ivoire one nil in their first game at the ongoing WAFU ZONE B Under-17 Nations Cup holding in Lome, the Togolese Capital.
The Eaglets were too soft for the physicality of the Baby Elephants who were more business minded and had more influx of attack on the vital area of the Nigerian defence that resulted in flurry of corner kicks.
In the second half, the Ivorians continued to pile pressure on the Eaglets and a well controlled aerial ball by Mezian Charles, which he followed with a shot in the direction of the Nigerian Goalkeeper, yielded the desired result the Baby Elephants have been looking for in the 75 minute of the encounter.
All efforts by the Eaglets to level up were thwarted by the more resolute Ivorians who employed delay tactics to while away time and coast home to victory at the expense of the Coach Fatai Amoo led Golden Eaglets.
Next stop for the Eaglets is perennial rivals, Ghana on Saturday, a match they must win if they hope to qualify from the group stage.
