Group B at the WAFU-Zone B qualifying competition for the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations will come down to the final day following wins for Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast on Wednesday. Niger are the only side who appear out of contention for a top-2 spot following their 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Ivory Coast, who earned their first win after a narrow defeat to Benin in the opening match. Burkina Faso will face Les Éléphanteaux in their final match after obtaining their second win in two matches with a 2-1 victory over Benin, who still can move on with a win against Niger in their final fixture.
Ivory Coast conceded the first goal in their match against Niger when an 11th minute attempted pass back to Ivorian goalkeeper Houidi Ulrich was intercepted by Yanis Ali Isoufou before slipping his shot under Ulrich. However, Les Éléphanteaux stormed back to level within four minutes through a header from Jean Emmanuel and the goals just kept coming for the Ivorians. Captain Nambagui Daouda gave his side the lead before a strike from Inza Armand was followed by two goals from Yan Diomandé to make it a 5-1 halftime lead for Ivory Coast. Doumbia Abdoulaye finished up the scoring late in the second half to complete the decisive victory.
It was much more competitive in the day’s other match between Burkina Faso and Benin. An exciting opening fifteen minutes saw the two teams trade goals with Burkina Faso’s Appolinaire Bougma putting his side up on a 13th minute header before Benin’s Yamirou Ouorou provided a perfect through ball to assist Seydou Morzeed’s leveler two minutes later. Early in the second half the Burkinabé side took the lead when Ousmane Camara’s through ball led to a foul in the Beninese penalty area and Camara stepped up to convert the penalty kick, giving Burkina Faso a lead they would not relinquish.
Highlights from both of Wednesday’s games are below.
Ivory Coast 6-1 Niger
Burkina Faso 2-1 Benin
