NFF Secures Friendly Matches For U-20 AFCON Preparation

Following the cancellation of the planned friendly matches between the Nigeria’s U-20 team and their Egyptian counterparts, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has secured a replacement team in order for the Flying Eagles not to leave camp without testing their strength ahead of the forthcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The seven-time African champions will now play AFCON hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in two matches scheduled for February 26th and 28th in the Ivorian capital.

Team Administrator of the Nigeria U-20 side, Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim, confirmed that the team, which has been in camp in Abuja for weeks after head coach Aliyu Zubairu called up 30 players for the planned games with Egypt’s Young Pharaohs, is expected to depart Abuja for Abidjan on Monday, 24^th February.

The Flying Eagles defeated the Ivorians 2-1 in a group stage encounter at the WAFU B U-20 Championship in Togo in October last year.

The result that qualified the Cup holders to the semi-finals of the competition which they eventually won to retain the trophy.

Forty-two years ago, Nigeria edged the Ivorians 4-3 in a memorable two-legged final of the Tessema Cup (the trophy for Africa’s U-20 champions, named after then CAF President Ydnekatchew Tessema).

Both teams had already qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U20 World Cup) finals in Mexico, but the fixture was staged to determine the champions of Africa.

• Read more: Flying Eagles Return To Camp For Egypt Friendlies
• Read more: Flying Eagles Coach Accepts U-20 AFCON Group Challenge

The first leg in Abidjan ended 2-2, but a long-range strike by Dahiru Sadi in the second half gave Nigeria a 2-1 win in the return leg at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The games with the Pharaohs were rendered nullity after both Nigeria and Egypt were drawn in group B (alongside Morocco and South Africa) of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cote d’Ivoire from 26^th April to 18^th May.

All four semi-finalists at the AFCON will qualify to represent the continent at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Chile, 27^th September – 19^th October.