NIGERIA Football Federation president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has told the Flying Eagles that they must improve on their recent performances and advance to the semi-finals of the men’s football event of the African Games in Ghana.
The Nigeria U-20s lost their opening match 2-1 to Uganda and struggled to beat South Sudan 1-0, and they must defeat Senegal tomorrow in Accra in order to reach the semi-finals.
The NFF boss said he has not been impressed with the outing of the seven-time African champions at the Games so far, warning them that they cannot afford to miss out on a medal chance.
“Nigeria has a high pedigree in youth football across the globe and that is a fact that should ring loud in the minds of every player wearing the green-white-green at that level. We did not fare well against Uganda and I gave the boys a piece of my mind,” Gusau told the NFF media department.
“Against South Sudan, we should have done more and taken the three points quickly but had to struggle. I believe the players have the potential to do far more and they should start by showing their stuff against Senegal on Friday. It is a match we have to win to reach the semi-finals.”
The Flying Eagles are in Group B, which initially had five teams before Tunisia’s withdrawal, and Uganda are already through to the semi-finals after winning their first two matches.
The fight for the second semi-final ticket available to the group is a straight shootout between Nigeria and Senegal, with South Sudan already are out of the running having lost their first two games.
