By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s rising star Yahaya Lawali on Wednesday evening emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) while playing for his country in the ongoing U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria.
Lawali stood out despite Nigeria’s 0-1 loss to Morocco in the second match of Group B in Constantine.
He was also voted the MVP in the first game between Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets and Zambia.
With the latest result, Morocco earned all three points to sail into the quarter-finals of the competition as the Golden Eaglets wasted a basketful of opportunities in a match they dominated for large periods.
An own goal by Tochukwu Ogboji as early as the 2nd minute was all the Moroccans, who downed South Africa’s Amajimbo 2-0 on the opening day, needed to make it within a step of booking a spot at this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup.
As happened in their opening match against Zambia, the Eaglets created chance after chance but pathetically lacked precision in front of goal.
Zambia will later on face South Africa.
Both sides lost their opening group proceedings, and will be looking forward to make up, in search of victory.
The Eaglets will now play South Africa on Saturday, and victory is imperative in order to be assured of qualification to the last eight.
