U17 AFCON: Five talking points from Nigeria’s comeback 3-2 victory over South Africa

In an exciting encounter at the Stade Mohamed-Hamlaoui in Constantine, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over South Africa’s Amajimbos in their final Group B match of the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

The comeback win propelled Nigeria into the quarterfinals of the tournament, highlighting their determination, set-piece effectiveness, impactful substitutions, and ability to close out a match.

Let’s delve into the five key talking points from this exciting showdown.

Early setback and resilience

Nigeria faced an early setback when South Africa took the lead just five minutes into the match. This mirrored their previous match against Morocco, where they also conceded an early goal.

However, the Nigerian team showed resilience and did not let the setback affect their performance. This resilience was crucial in their comeback.

Persistence and attacking prowess

Despite the early setback, Nigeria continued pressuring forward and creating scoring opportunities.

They showed persistence and determination throughout the match, which ultimately paid off. Their attacking prowess was evident in their ability to create chances and find the back of the net.

Set-piece effectiveness

One of Nigeria’s goals came from a well-executed corner kick. Charles Agada scored a fine header to equalize the score at 1-1.

This highlights Nigeria’s improving effectiveness in set-piece situations and their ability to capitalize on such opportunities.

Set pieces can often be game-changers, and Nigeria utilized them effectively in this match.

Brave calls from Ugbade

Coach Nduka Ugbade made the bold call to keep his captain Precious Williams out of the starting lineup after the striker failed to find the back of the net in Nigeria’s first two games. Favour Daniel, who got the winner against Zambia on matchday one, also got the axe.

And in their place came Light Eke and Charles Agada.

Both players got the Golden Eaglets’ first and second goals to prove their coach made the right decisions.

This demonstrates the tactical awareness of the Nigerian coaching staff and the ability of the substitutes to make a significant difference in the outcome of the match.

Determination and closing out the match

After taking the lead in the 64th minute, Nigeria displayed determination and composure to secure their victory. They piled on the pressure and looked to extend their lead further, demonstrating their hunger for a more comfortable victory.

Although they could not add to their goal tally, they remained focused and managed to hold on to their lead until the final whistle.