Nigeria’s chances of playing at the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s football event hangs in a balance as the country’s Under-23 side played out a 0-0 draw with against Guinea’s U-23 side, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Wednesday.
Coach Salisu Yusuf invited some overseas and home-based players to camp, hoping they will overrun the Guineans. However, the resilience and determination of their opponents kept the Nigerian hopeful at bay in the match, watched by some Abuja football fanatics.
Nigeria are in danger of missing out on yet another Olympics competition after playing a goalless draw against Guinea in the first leg of the final qualifying round. They also failed to capitalise on home soil for a chance to book its ticket to Paris.
The second leg of the Nigeria/Guinea match has been scheduled for the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan, starting from 7pm Morocco time (8pm Nigeria time) on Tuesday, 28th March.
The overall winners will secure a place at the 2023 U23 AFCON to be hosted by Morocco in November.
The Olympic Eagles of Nigeria’s last participation at the men’s football event was at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 edition, where the U-23 Eagles won the Bronze medal.
The 1996 Gold and 2008 Bronze medalists missed the 2020 edition in Japan and hope to return to the fray at the Paris 2024 Games.
