Burkina Faso has eliminated Cameroon from the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Under 17 Lions lost 2-1 despite securing an early lead in the 61st minute.
The two teams were deadlocked at the end of the first half, but things changed drastically during the second part of the encounter.
The U-17 lions took the lead thanks to midfielder, Matah Dorinel angel Yongjio, with Ndongo Essono Rodrigues providing the assist.
The Lions were unable to hold on to their lead as two successive goals from Souleymane Alio in the 76th and 78th minute, gave the lead to Burkina Faso.
Attempts by the defending champions to get back into the game proved abortive.
Champions of the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations Cameroon will exit the 2023 edition alongside Somalia and Zambia.
Burkina Faso’s Brahima Troare’s team will face two-time champions in the quarter-finals. On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the game will be held at Algiers’ Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets finished second in Group B, trailing Morocco. The encounter with Burkina Faso will be a rematch of the WAFU Zone B Championship Final. Coach Nduka Ugbade’s Eaglets won the title in 2022 after defeating Burkina Faso 2-1.
The victor of the last-eight match will receive one of four available tickets to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as a place in the 2023 U-17 AFCON semi-finals.