U20AFCON: Flying Eagles face CAR, Congo in friendlies

Nigeria national U20 team; the Flying Eagles will face their counterparts from the Central African Republic (CAR) in a friendly game on Sunday ahead of this month’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations (U20AFCON).

The team led by Ladan Bosso arrived in Morocco on Thursday night for a one-week training camp ahead of the continental showpiece which will commence in Egypt on February 19,2023.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has now confirmed on Saturday that the team will play an international friendly game at their camp base in Casablanca, Morocco on Sunday night against CAR who will also participate at the African tournament.

After facing CAR on Sunday, the Flying Eagles will then face Congo’s U20 on Wednesday before flying out to Cairo for the competition. The friendly games against CAR and Congo are possible because all three nations are currently in Morocco camping for the tournament.

Bosso who was head coach of the Nigeria U20 at the 2007 U20 AFCON in Congo had released his list of 21 players for the forthcoming tournament on the eve of their departure to Morocco.

The team is led by defender Daniel Bamaiyi and also includes regular features such as Nathaniel Nwosu, Daniel Daga and Samson Lawal.

Nigeria’s first match of the campaign, as they attempt an eighth continental title, will be against Senegal’s Cub Lions at the Cairo International Stadium starting from 9pm Egypt time on Sunday, 19th February.

The Flying Eagles, two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up and one-time bronze medallists, will then face hosts Egypt on Wednesday, 22nd February (same time and same venue) and Mozambique on Saturday, 25th February (same time and same venue).

All four semi-finalists at the 12-team championship in Egypt will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals to be staged in Indonesia 20th May – 11th June this year.

Nigeria U20 Squad to Egypt 2023

Nathaniel Nwosu, Augustine Njoku, Solomon Agbalaka, Daniel Daga, Abel Ogwuche, Daniel Bameyi, Rilwanu Haliru Sarki, Nicholas Jonathan, Ahmed Abdullahi, Muhammad Aminu, Ibrahim Muhammad, Benjamin Frederick, Emmanuel Uchegbu, Onuche Ogbelu, Jude Sunday, Akanbi Saheed Jimoh, Ayuba Francis Abubakar, Samson Lawal, Olamilekan Adams, Caleb Ochedikwu, Chijioke Aniagboso