Tag: U-23 Eagles

Paris 2024: How Guinea stopped Nigeria’s U-23 Olympic dreams

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles have come short of making it to this year’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-0 to Guinea in the second leg of their final qualifying fixture in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday.

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Abuja on Wednesday last week, the Eagles had the opportunity of more training sessions together to take the game to the Guineans on neutral ground, as Guinea does not have a venue approved in their country for international football.

Both teams fought hard on the turf of the Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan for one hour, before Guinea took the lead, and then added a second 15 minutes later to the consternation of the Nigeria squad and their head coach Salisu Yusuf.

Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, for a team that emerged champions of the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015 and reached the finals staged in Egypt four years ago.

March 29, 2023
Paris 2024 Race: U23 Head Coach, Yusuf, calls up 16 overseas-based players

Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 16 overseas-based players to the team’s camp in preparation for this month’s U23 AFCON final qualifying fixture against Guinea.

The Olympic Eagles trade tackles with their Guinean counterparts in a first leg encounter scheduled for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja from 4pm on Wednesday, 22^nd March, with the return set for the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan from 7pm Morocco time on Tuesday, 28^th March. Guinea does not have any venue approved in the country for international matches.

Yusuf’s list of invitees is headed by team captain Success Makanjuola, whose two converted spot kicks against Tanzania earned the 1996 Olympic gold-medallists passage to this final round. There are also midfielder Abiodun Ogunniyi and Bello Babatunde, as well as Belgium-based new headline-grabber Gift Emmanuel Orban.

As happened against the Tanzanians in Dar es Salaam and Ibadan in October last year, Makanjuola is expected to lead the charge against the Guineans in Abuja on Wednesday, perhaps alongside Orban, with Babatunde and Ogunniyi (nicknamed Omo-Jesu) pulling the strings from the middle.

The winner on aggregate will qualify for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco later this year, at which Africa’s flag bearers at next year’s Men’s Olympic Football Tournament will emerge.

Guinea’s delegation for the encounter in Abuja is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday evening.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Success Makanjuola (FK Liepaja, Latvia); Bello Babatunde (Future FC, Egypt); Isaiah Ejeh (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Abiodun Ogunniyi (FK Auda, Latvia); Monsuru Opeyemi Abdullahi (FC Vizela, Portugal); Omole Akinyinka Olaoluwakitan (Athletic Newham, UK); Owen Tega Udoh (UD San Sebastian Reyes, Spain); Azeez Temitope Yusuf (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Charles Uba (Lillestrom FC, Norway); Simon Omon (Clube Operation Desportivo, Portugal); Ihekuna Maximillian Ugochukwu (FC Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni, Moldova); Chukwudi Goodluck Igbokwe (KAA Gent, Belgium); Abass Saidi (Zagalata FC, Azerbaijan); Ibrahim Buhari (IF Elfsborg, Sweden); Gift Emmanuel Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Samuel Amadi (Eramica Cleopatra, Egypt)

March 19, 2023
Under-23 AFCON Qualifiers: Olympic Eagles to face Guinea in Ibadan March 22

The Nigeria Olympic team will play the Guinea U -23 side at the last round of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final qualifying round first leg fixture at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on March 22.

Recall the Olympic Eagles had defeated Tanzania U -23 side to get to this stage.

A penalty kick goal in each half, and at opposing sides, had guaranteed a stalemate in the first leg match of the second-round fixture at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam in October.

A textbook free-kick by Timilehin Ogunniyi and another penalty kick by team captain Success Makanjuola in the return leg game in Ibadan saw the Eagles sailing to the final round.

The winner of both ties will qualify to the group stage of an eight-team format in the AFCON that will hold Morocco later in the year.

Nigeria won the second edition of the Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015, before winning the bronze medal at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Brazil in 2016.

The first four teams from the tournament will proceed to the football competition of the Olympics slated for Paris in 2024.

February 14, 2023
Egypt 2023: Flying Eagles land in Morocco to continue preparations

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles left the country yesterday for Morocco to continue their preparation for AFCON under 20 tourneys meant for Egypt later in the month.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria has won the tourney seven times in their history and will be gunning for their eight title.

Ladan Bosso’s side will spend a few days in Morocco for the final stage of their preparations for the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

The 2023 U-20 AFCON will start in Egypt next weekend and run till March 11 across three cities: Cairo, Ismailia and Alexandria.

The Flying Eagles are the most successful side in the history of the competition with seven titles.

Much is expected from the West Africans after their exploits at the WAFU B U-20 Championship last May where they emerged winners after strolling past neighbours, Benin Republic 3-0 in the final.

Talented forward, Adams Olamilekan is confident they will return home with the trophy.

“We have a strong team and have what it takes to beat the other teams in Egypt,”

“We will take it game by game and I believe the quality in our team will see us through,” he said.

Olamilekan’s view was corroborated by goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu.

“We are going to Egypt to conquer Africa again,” he stated.

February 10, 2023
Paris 2024: Tanzania U23 team, match officials storm Ibadan

The delegation of U23 Men National Team of Tanzania, who play Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles in a crucial U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Ibadan on Saturday, is ensconced in Carlton Gate Hotel in the sprawling city and looking forward to having a feel of the Lekan Salami Stadium turf on Friday evening.

Both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam on Saturday last week, and goals are needed to separate them and determine which side goes ahead to face the winner of the fixture between Uganda and Guinea in the ultimate round before the continental finals slated for Morocco in 13 months’ time.

Match officials from Togo have also arrived, as all arrangements have been concluded by the Nigeria Football Federation, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Oyo State Government for the big match.

A goal in each half, from the spot and in opposite directions, was the account of the first leg, and Head Coach Salisu Yusuf says his boys are primed for a decisive victory when the whistle goes for kick-off at 4pm on Saturday.

“We went to Tanzania to win but it was just not possible. The boys really worked hard and I must commend them for their efforts. However, we have been working hard on our weak points and believe we will get the job done on Saturday.

“The entire team is happy with the hospitality from the Oyo State Government. We are happy to be able to focus entirely on the match without any distractions.”

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Togolese official Aklesso Gnama as match referee, with his compatriots Komlan Domenyo Adiwotso, Jonathan Koffi Ahonto and Komlanvi Aklassou in the roles of assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and reserve referee respectively.

Mr. Alim Konate Aboubakar from Cameroon will serve as match commissioner with Bechir Hassani from Tunisia in the role of referee assessor.

October 27, 2022