Winning start for Mehmet

Deniz Mehmet got off to a winning start at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria on Sunday.

The Academy goalkeeper, who turned 17 in September, kept a clean sheet as Turkey beat Burkina Faso 1-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. Highly-rated Muhammet Demir, who plays for Bursaspor in his homeland, ghosted in at the far post to nod in the only goal of the game after just three minutes.

Mehmet was forced into action regularly by the Africans, making a good diving save from Abdoulaye Ibrango before half-time.

Turkey contest their second Group D fixture on Wednesday, when they take on Costa Rica in Enugu. The Central Americans got their campaign up-and-running with a 1-1 draw with New Zealand at the same venue on Sunday. Their final group stage fixture will see them face New Zealand in Calabar on Saturday.