THE Flying Eagles are one step closer to qualifying for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and a victory over Cote d’Ivoire tomorrow will make the Nigerians’ dream come true.
Ladan Bosso’s boys won Group B of the WAFU B U-20 Championship in Niamey, Niger Republic with a win over Ghana and a draw with Burkina Faso to set up a semi-final clash with the Junior Elephants.
Cote d’Ivoire reached the semi-finals by finishing second in Group A behind Benin Republic, while hosts Niger Republic were eliminated.
Only the finalists from the regional competition in Niamey will proceed to the African championship in Egypt next year.
Therefore, everything is riding on tomorrow’s semi-final as the Flying Eagles seek to return to a tournament they failed to qualify for in 2020.
The Nigeria vs Cote d’Ivoire clash is billed for 8pm, after the first semi-final between Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.
Ibrahim Muhammad and Ahmed Abdullahi scored the goals that secured a 2-0 victory against deposed African champions Ghana last Sunday, and the two will be the key players in the semi-finals.
Ahmed Abdullahi, who scored against Burkina Faso before a head injury knocked him out of the tournament, will be sorely missed but head coach Bosso is confident that his boys will rise to the occasion against the Ivorians and pick a ticket to Egypt.
The U-20 AFCON is scheduled for 18 February to 12 March next year, with the four semi-finalists proceeding to the U-20 World Cup later in the year.
