AFCON U-17: Lawali Yahaya wins POTM again despite Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to Morocco

In a game that saw Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, dominate the statistics sheet but fail to find the back of the net, Lawali Yahaya was once again the standout player on the pitch.

The young defender, who had won the Player of the Match (POTM) award in Nigeria’s opening game against Zambia, put in another impressive performance against Morocco, despite ending up on the losing side.

Yahaya was a constant thorn in the side of the Moroccan defence, with his pace, trickery and intelligent movement causing problems throughout the match.

He also showed great work rate and defensive awareness, tracking back to help his team win back possession and thwarting the opposition’s attacks.

Despite the defeat, Yahaya’s performance was recognized by the match officials, who awarded him the POTM award for the second time in a row.

The young star’s ability to perform at a high level consistently will be crucial for Nigeria’s chances of success in the tournament, especially given their next match against South Africa is a must-win if they are to advance to the knockout stages.