Nigeria has won the U17 world cup championship again for the 5th time

                                                                  NIGERIA 2 - 0 MALI                     

                                                                                             









   

NIGERIA U17                                  
Goals by:

Victor James Osimhen 56'

Funsho Ibrahim Bamgboye 59'

Nigeria has won the U17 world cup championship for the 5th time.

With Victor Osimhen setting a new world record scoring a total of 10 goals in the entire competition.

It is the first-ever meeting between both teams in the U17 World Cup and they come with their impressive credentials. Nigeria are reigning champions coming in from the last tournament in 2013. Mali are African champions from the tournament in Niger in February. They avoided each other even then only to set up the second all-African final in Chile.

This would be the fourth time Nigeria would face African opposition in the history of the tournament and they have a 3-0 record of wins. Coincidentally, all matches have been against West African opposition showing the strength of football in the subregion. In the previous all-African final, Nigeria egded Ghana 2-1 in 1993, a set that had the famous Nwankwo Kanu.

Mali's strength in youth football is growing as they reached the semi finals of the U20 World Cup earlier in June. They seem to be getting something right in their football development and one can only wish them well for the future.

The team lists are out: Mali XI: Samuel (GK), Dante (C), Chato, Sangare, Maiga, Diakite, Malle, Boubacar, Fofana, Haidara A., Koita

Nigeria XI v Mali: Udoh (GK), Lazarus, Enogela, Zakari, Bamgboye, Chukwueze, Osimhen, Nwakali (C), Ikwu, Anumudu, Ebere