Nigeria’s U-17 national team edged closer to booking a semi-final place at the 2015 Africa U-17 Championship following a hardfought 1-1 with Guinea in Niamey on Wednesday.

Both nations came into the match with a win under their belt but it was the Guineans that broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through Sam Diallo’s penalty.

Having struggled in the first period, the Golden Eaglets edged proceedings in the second half as Victor Osimeh and Christian Charles were denied by Guinea goalkeeper Moussa Camara.

Camara however could do nothing in preventing Golden Eaglets captain Kelechi Nwakali from equalising from the penalty spot with three minutes to go as both sides settled for a share of the spoils from the Group A encounter in Niamey.

Now with four points, Nigeria still leads Group A by virtue of goal difference while Guinea remains second, also on fourth.

Meanwhile hosts Niger have crashed out of the competition following a 2-1 loss to Zambia in the other Group A match played on Wednesday.

And Zambia will face Nigeria in their final group match in which a win would seal a semi-final spot and a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. Nigeria on the other hand require only a draw to make it through.