It’s been a great day for hosts Nigeria at the quarter-finals of the on-going second edition of the Airtel Rising Stars Africa U-17 soccer tournament holding in the country’s economic capital, Lagos.

In the Male category, Nigeria just defeated Chad 2-1, with a goal coming in each half and the Chadians reducing the tally via a late penalty during the tense match at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere.

In the Female category, Nigeria overcame a spirited challenge from archrivals Ghana to win by penalty. Ghana thus are out of contention to defend the title they won last year in Kenya.

In the semi-finals taking place tomorrow at Agege Stadium, Nigerian boys will meet defending champions Niger while the girls will engage Kenya at the same venue.

The championship kicked off Monday at the Agege Township Stadium and ends at the same venue on Sunday. The Airtel Rising Stars Africa U-17 soccer tournament is a unique pan-African initiative of Airtel Africa designed to create a pool of talents to feed the national football teams of African countries.

•Photo: Ghanaian midfielder Michael Owusu in a challenge with a Tanzanian player during the group matches.