Niamey 2015 highlights

The 11th Caf/Africa U17 Championships will come to a climax on Sunday when Mali's Aiglonets meet South Africa's Amajimbos at the Stade Seyni Kountche in Niamey, Niger Republic.

After 14 matches, 39 goals and some scintillating football on display, Africa will get the chance to crown the new African champions at Under-17 level after Ivory Coast who won the last edition in Morocco in 2013 were eliminated after the group stages.

Mali and South Africa had to navigate through from Group B where Mali came tops and South Africa qualified as the second placed team in the group. The two teams, having dispatched Group A rivals Nigeria and Guinea, will meet again on Sunday.

The Aignolets drew 2-2 with the Amajimbos on match day 2 of the group stages in a very interesting encounter. Mali lead 2-0 with goals from Sidiki Maiga and Boubacar Traore but the Amajimbos staged a comeback scoring through Katlego Mohamme and Luvuyo Mkatshana to level up.

Both teams are arguably the pick of the crop in this year's edition as they have shown they are worthy finalists in what should be an interesting final game on Sunday

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runs the rule on competition so far and throws in some highs and lows of the tournament.

Star team:

Mali, by a long mile. The Aiglonets have been the stand out team of the competition so far. Bar the 2-2 draw with eventual finalists, they won all their games at the tournament leading to the final.

Led by captain Abdul Karim Dante, they have impressed fans and pundits here in Niamey with some fantastic display of football.

Sidiki Maiga, strikers Boubacar Traore and Sekou Koita are dangerous customers any day and the Amajimbo defence will have to be on their toes to stop them.

Cinderella team:

Definitely South Africa. The team came into the tournament unheralded but will leave it with a World Cup ticket and an enhanced reputation at this level.

The Amajimbos made their maiden appearance at this level in Niger 2015, but have played like an experienced campaigner.

Coach Molefe Petrus Ntseki has done a wonderful job on the team bringing out the best in his players who started the tournament a but jittery.

Goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto has come up big despite a nervy start to the competition. He was man of the match against Nigeria in the semi final as he stopped everything the Golden Eaglets threw at him.

Nelson Maluleke, diminutive winger Sibongakonke Mbatha and centre back Katlego Mohamme were also impressive in South Africa's run to the final.

Flops of the tournament:

Cameroun. The Cubs were a big shadow of themselves as they exited at the group stage.

Three straight losses, eight goals conceded and three goals scored didn't do anything to help their reputation as they became the whipping boys of Group B.

Stand-out players:

Abdul Karim Dante, Sidiki Maiga, Boubacar Traore (Mali) Nelson Maluleke, Katlego Mohamme, Sibongakonke Mbatha (South Africa) Kelechi Nwakali, Suleiman Abdullahi (Nigeria) Aboubacar Toure, Moussa Camara (Guinea)

Coach of the tournament:

South Africa coach Petrus Molefe Ntseki nicks it at this stage. He has been able to put together a team that had made tremendous strides in their first ever Africa Junior Championship.

His tactical acumen came into display as the Amajimbos took out Nigeria in the semi-final on Saturday, despite the Golden Eaglets dominating the game and creating tons of chances in the game.

Goals Ahoy:

Two goals stand out at this tournament and both are from Nigerians. Kelechi Nwakali's dipping swerve outside Zambia's box was a beauty.

The Nigeria captain caught a cross from the right channel, set him self up and cracked a half volley that went in under the cross. It was a beauty to behold.

Victor Osimhen's goal was similar to Nwakali's but the striker curled his in from 25 yards as the ball came to him. He didn't bother to control the ball, he just leaned forward and let fly. It was a peach of a goal as Nigeria won the game 3-1.