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Saturday 7 November 2015

Nigeria Vs Mali: FIFA U-17 World Cup Final On Sunday


Three weeks ago, 24 teams from six confederations arrived in South America to contest the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. Fifty-two matches later it has been confirmed that an African side will definitely lift the trophy, while Belgium and Mexico will seek to end their campaign on a high note by winning bronze before the tournament showpiece gets underway. FIFA.com looks ahead to the final day of competition. 



The final 

Mali-Nigeria, Vina Del Mar, 19.00 (local time) 

Two teams from the same confederation will go toe-to-toe in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 22 years and ten editions of the tournament, after CAF sides Ghana and Nigeria met in the final back in 1993. The Golden Eaglets secured the second of their four World Cup crowns with a 2-1 victory that day. “It’s very important for African football and incredible that something like this has only happened once before,” said Nigeria’s Orji Okwonkwo in eager anticipation of this continental showdown, where the record champions could become the second team to defend their title on Sunday evening after Brazil triumphed in 1997 and 1999. 

Although the Nigerians have ample experience of these showdowns, Sunday night’s game will mark the first time a Malian side has reached the final of any FIFA tournament. After the country’s third-place finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand a few weeks ago, coach Bayer Ba’s squad have gone one step further in Chile. “Let me tell you straight: you build up an appetite by eating,” he explained before the last four. Mali’s passage to the final has surely increased this hunger even further. 

While Nigeria hold a clear lead in the head-to-head record between the two nations’ senior sides with four wins, three draws and just one defeat to their name, Mali have the edge when it comes to youth football. When hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999, the Golden Eaglets were forced to throw in the towel in the quarter-finals as Les Aiglonnets beat them 3-1. 

Match for third place 
Belgium-Mexico, Vina Del Mar, 16.00 (local time)

The track records of these two teams could hardly be more different ahead of their first meeting at youth level. In one corner stand the Belgians, who have already exceeded all expectations. After qualifying for the Round of 16 as one of the best third-place group finishers, the Europeans improved from one match to the next and proved to be worthy adversaries to Mali in the last four. 

Waiting in the other corner are the Mexicans, who have just lost a FIFA U-17 World Cup semi-final for the first time after becoming champions in 2011 and contesting the decider two years ago. El Tri were defeated 4-2 by Nigeria in one of the most exciting matches of this tournament in Chile – but the result could easily have been different. “Both teams had chances. Unfortunately we didn’t score, Nigeria did. This was the difference – but that’s football,” coach Mario Arteaga said succinctly after the game. 

Player to watch 
Dante Rigo (Belgium) 

Les Diablotins’ midfielder moved up into top gear in the knockout stages to become one of the main contributors to Belgium’s first semi-final appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup. He shone as a provider of goals in the 2-0 win over Korea Republic before scoring to give his side a 1-0 lead in both their 1-0 triumph over Costa Rica and their 3-1 defeat by Mali. Although his strike was ultimately not enough against the African champions, Rigo and the rest of Bob Browaeys’ squad have had plenty to celebrate during their time in Chile. 

The stat

3 – While it seems almost certain that Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen will collect the adidas Golden Boot as best goalscorer of the tournament with nine strikes so far, a head-to-head battle has emerged for the lower steps on this particular podium. The Golden Eaglets’ Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze, Mali’s Sidiki Maiga and Belgian Rigo are all tied on three goals each with one game left to play. Currently ahead of this quartet with four goals is Germany’s Johannes Eggestein, whose team were eliminated by Croatia in the Round of 16.

The words

"Playing at a World Cup is an experience to treasure for life. You never know whether you’ll get to play at another one. Unfortunately our title dreams are now over, but we still have a chance to take home a medal. We’ll now give it everything against Belgium so that we can end the tournament on a high note," Mexico midfielder Diego Cortes.

5 Reasons Why The Golden Eaglet Will Not Lift The Trophy In Chile

1. The malians are unbeaten in this competition. They have won 5 of their overall matches and drew one, while the eaglets won 5 and lost one. you see that the malians have high odds of beaten the eaglets. 

2. Remember, the golden eaglets are the defending champions UAE 2013 ,so lifting the trophy back to back may as well witch haunt us, like that of the Uefa Champions league, no team club have lifted it back to back, you know what i mean, 

3. The Golden eaglets and the Malian teams are two big rivals, remember when the pair met at the under17 African championship finale, they comfortably did beaten us hands down on a penalty shoot-out and hence won the Trophy. If care, is not taken such scenario may repeat itself. 

4. This is the first time the Malians are getting their hands near a trophy on the international level,and they may not likely want to let it slip off their hands. Malians are very dangerous opponent, bring on any other team at this level, i would say yes, buh! Malians fear them.


5. The golden eaglets have won this trophy 4 times, the 4 trophies were mainly won on the ASIAN SOIL or continent, so, the golden eaglets have never won this competition outside Asia. So you see where the malians have their advantage over eaglets. So, with this stats you see that the malians will do better in this competition. So, as a Nigerian lets pray very well to make sure we beat the Malians, Meanwhile , defiling all odds of this stat. Thank you. Lets support the eaglets.

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