The Flying Eagles, Nigeria’s U-20 national team, will face the Hippos of Uganda in the quarter-finals of the ongoing CAF U-20 AFCON in Egypt, on Thursday (today).
The winners of the clash will also secure a spot at the 2023 U-20 World Cup, apart from a progress to the semi-finals of the competition. This will hold in Indonesia between May 20 and June 11.
Going memory lane, 2015 is the last time the Flying Eagles won the tournament and they are determined to exceed such feat as they have made it out of the group stage.
Interestingly, their opponents, Uganda, finished top of Group. Thanks to two draws against Congo and Sudan, a win over the Central African Republic and the luck of drawn lots.
Uganda also have an encouraging record, having made their debut appearance at the U-20 AFCON in the last edition, reached the final and secured a second place after losing to Ghana in the final.
In response to the situation, Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso, said that his side will begin to eye the trophy as soon as the World Cup ticket is secured.
“We are aware that Nigerians are looking up to us to deliver. While our mission remains bagging the World Cup ticket, we are also eyeing the trophy, which is still a number of matches away. For the moment, we have Uganda in our view and we are working hard to see that we control proceedings on Thursday (today).”
Both sides will trade tackle at the 22,000-capacity Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt at 6pm Nigerian time.
Egyptian Ahmed Nagy Mosa as referee for the clash and he will be supported by compatriots Mohamed Abouzid Halhal (assistant referee 1) and Yara Atef (assistant referee 2), as well as Libyan official Abdulrazg Ahmed (fourth official).
