FLYING Eagles defender Abel Ogwuche has turned his attention to winning the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title after the team secured a FIFA U-20 World Cup spot.
The Nigerian side defeated Uganda 1-0 in Ismailia, Egypt yesterday to advance to the U-20 AFCON semi-finals and seal a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup billed for Indonesia in May and June.
Ogwuche was named the Man of the Match of the quarter-final match at the Suez Canal Stadium as he fulfilled his and his teammates’ World Cup ‘dream’.
“It is a great feeling to win and it was our dream from the start of the tournament to get the World Cup ticket and now we’re looking forward to taking the trophy home,” Ogwuche said at his post-match press conference.
Ibrahim Juma scored an own goal in the first half in the tight encounter and Ogwuche feels the Flying Eagles’ desire and commitment saw them through.
“We just wanted to come and win. That was our motivation today, to secure the World Cup ticket and we made it,” he added.
“We had to secure our place in the World Cup. That’s why we all put in a strong performance to win.”
The winners of today’s quarter-final clash between The Gambia and South Sudan will face Nigeria in the semi-finals on Monday at the Cairo International Stadium from 6pm Nigerian time.
