NIGERIA’S Olympic Eagles will not be taking part in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after losing to Guinea tonight.
The team, led by head coach Salisu Yusuf, were kicked out of the U-23 AFCON race by Guinea, who won their clash 2-0 tonight in Rabat, Morocco.
With the first leg of the final qualifying tie ending 0-0 in Abuja last week, Guinea advanced to the continental competition 2-0 on aggregate.
The Guineans, who hosted the game in Morocco because they do not have suitable grounds at home, scored two late goals to send Yusuf’s side crashing out.
The U-23 AFCON will serve as the qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s football event.
It is the second consecutive Olympics Nigeria will be missing in men’s football after Samson Siasia led them to bronze at the Rio 2016 Games in Brazil.
It is also the first U-23 AFCON miss since 2015, when Nigeria won the tournament in Senegal.
