Match preview: Nigeria, South Africa fight for QF spot in must-win AFCON U17 clash

• It's a crucial match for Nigeria's Golden Eaglets as they face off against South Africa in the final Group B fixture of the 2023 CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

The stakes are high as both teams are tied on three points each, and only the top two teams from the group are guaranteed to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Golden Eaglets come into the match second in Group A ahead of South Africa as they boast a better goal difference, having defeated Zambia in their opening game before losing to Morocco in their second. Nigeria will be looking to bounce back from that defeat and secure a victory that will see them through to the knockout stages of the tournament.

For South Africa's Amajimbos, the stakes are equally high. They started the tournament on the wrong foot with a defeat to Morocco, but they bounced back with a hard-fought [3-2] win over Zambia in their last game. The victory has given them a fighting chance to make it to the quarterfinals, and they will aim to build on that performance and secure the win they need to progress.

South Africa's head coach, Duncan Crowie, is fully aware of the importance of this match, and he knows that scoring early goals will be crucial to his team's chances of success. In their last game, they managed to score an early goal, which helped them settle into the game and create more chances. The coach will be hoping for a similar performance from his players against Nigeria.

However, the Golden Eaglets are a formidable opponent and will be looking to spoil South Africa's party. With talented players like Precious, Abubakar Abdullahi, and Yahaya Lawali, Nigeria has the firepower to cause problems for any team in the tournament.

Both teams will be going all out for the win, and when the final whistle blows, only whoever wins will progress to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Will it be Nigeria's Golden Eaglets, or will South Africa's Amajimbos pull off a surprise? The stage is set, and the fans eagerly anticipate what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Kick-off time is 8 pm Nigerian time.