Niger forward Abdoul Rakilou has been named Player of the Match following his decisive contribution to his side’s 1-0 victory over hosts Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU B U17 Championship.
Rakilou proved to be the hero for the Nigeriens, scoring the only goal of the encounter in the 61st minute to secure a hard-fought victory and send his country into the final of the competition.
The forward delivered a crucial performance in a tightly contested encounter, with both sides battling for supremacy and a place in the final.
After a goalless first half, Rakilou broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark, finding the back of the net to give Niger the decisive advantage against the tournament hosts.
Burkina Faso pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, hoping to keep their title ambitions alive in front of their home supporters. However, Niger remained disciplined and organised to protect their lead until the final whistle.
Rakilou’s match-winning goal earned him the individual accolade, capping an impressive outing as Niger continued their pursuit of the WAFU B U17 Championship title.
The victory sets up a final showdown against Ivory Coast, who also secured a 1-0 semi-final win over Ghana through Alex Fousseni Bamba’s 76th-minute strike.
Niger will now look to build on Rakilou’s decisive contribution as they prepare to battle Ivory Coast for the championship crown.
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