2021 U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets To Depart Nigeria For Morocco Tuesday

  2021 U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets To Depart Nigeria For Morocco Tuesday By Niyi Busari Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will depart Nigeria for Morocco, the host of the 2021 CAF U17 African Nations Cup, BSNSports.com.ng can reveal. The five-time world champions who finished second behind the champions, Cote d'Ivoire at the U17 WAFU Cup in Togo are eyeing winning the 14th edition of the championship. This will be the first edition in Africa U-17 Cup of Nations to have expanded to 12 teams instead of eight.  The top four teams (semifinalists) of the tournament would have normally qualified for the 2021 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru as the CAF representatives. However, FIFA decided on 24 December 2020 to cancel the tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic. The draw of the final tournament was held on 24 February 2021. The twelve teams were drawn into three groups of four teams. The top two teams of each group advance to the quarter finals along with the two best 3rd placed teams. Nigeria have a long and proud association with the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The most successful side in the history of the tournament, the Nigerians have been crowned champions five times (in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015) and have lost in the final on three other occasions (in 1987, 2001 and 2009). The 14th edition kicks off on Saturday 13th March with the host, Morocco taking on Uganda at the Stade Moulay Hassan at 8pm. Nigeria who are in group B alongside Tanzania, Algeria and Congo will start their campaign against Tanzania on Sunday 14th March at Stade El Bachir Mohammadia at 5pm.