Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets on Sunday began their campaign at the 2015 Africa U-17 Championship with a 2-0 win over host nation Niger in a Group A encounter played in Niamey.

Nigeria beat Niger in Africa U-17 Championship opener

Following the opening ceremony, which had CAF President Issa Hayatou among other dignitaries in attendance, Nigeria wasted little time in asserting themselves by breaking the deadlock after 18 minutes through Victor Osimhen.

The two-time champions doubled their advantage 12 minutes before the break through captain Kelechi Nwakali’s well taken freekick and held on for the win.

Next up for Nigeria is a match against fellow West Africans Guinea, in which a win for the Golden Eaglets would all but guarantee qualification to the semi-final stage of the competition and consequently a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup holding later this year in Chile.

Hosts Niger meanwhile must at least avoid defeat against Zambia in order to harbour hopes of making it to the last four.